The Iron Warrior

[ Have 1 Jock Hangout | None | 10c ]

CAMERON: Hey, Addison. Got a sec?

ADDISON: What’s up?

CAMERON: I need a little help. See, the Iron Warrior Challenge is coming up this weekend…

ADDISON: Is that, like, a cooking contest?

CAMERON: What? No! It’s a great test of physical fitness! A three-step endurance challenge, modeled after the training rituals of ancient Spartan warriors! The winner has to prove themselves in a 2 mile race… hit a bullseye with an arrow at 60 feet… and beat 3 opponents at fencing!

ADDISON: That sounds… Impossible.

CAMERON: I mean, maybe it you’re a wimp… Not that I’m calling you a wimp! I’m just saying that it’s a… wimpy… philosophy… which you have… Just take it from me, okay? This challenge is totally possible… and totally awesome!

ADDISON: So is this going to be your first time competing?

CAMERON: Actually, I competed last year and it… didn’t work out… But that’s in the past! This year, I’m gonna win, and I’m gonna win big! Only thing is… I could use a little help.

ADDISON: Oh yeah?

CAMERON: Well, I need to work on my sprinting, and I run a lot better if I’ve got someone to race against. Mind running with me?

[ Addison, Cameron | 10m | 20c ]

CAMERON: All right! 2 mile race! You ready to do this?

ADDISON: Ready if you are… just don’t get too upset if I beat you to the finish!

CAMERON: Huff… huff… whoo! That felt goooooood!

ADDISON: You’re… pretty fast…

CAMERON: Well, I’ve got to be. The Iron Warrior Challenge is no joke!

ADDISON: Need help with anything else?

CAMERON: Actually, yeah. The next phase of the Challenge is an archery competition…

ADDISON: If this involves putting an apple on my head, I’m out.

CAMERON: Ha, no, nothing like that. I just need some new targets to shoot at. I used to practice in my backyard, but my mom made me stop after I put an arrow through her bird-feeder.

ADDISON: Buying you some new targets? I’ll see what I can do!

[ Spend 100 coins | None | 5b ]

ADDISON: How are these?

CAMERON: A scarecrow, a classic bullseye, and a cardboard cutout of a sparkly vampire? It’s perfect!

ADDISON: Just make sure you put them down away from the school…

CAMERON: Oh wait! One more thing! An Iron Warrior can’t just run and shoot! They also need to be able to prove themselves in combat… By winning at the dignified and elegant sport of fencing!

ADDISON: I guess I can help…

CAMERON: That’ll be good, but I don’t know if my rival will be a guy or a girl… so I ought to practice against both!

[ Addison, A Guy Classmate except Cameron, A Girl Classmate except Cameron (Finley, Bailey) | 20m | 10b ]

CAMERON: You two ready to fence?

FINLEY: The edges of these swords are taped, right?

BAILEY: Yeah, are you sure this is safe?

CAMERON: En garde! Whoo! That was great!

FINLEY: You’re really handy with a sword…

BAILEY: I think I did pretty well myself…

CAMERON: All right, Addison! You’re up!

Cameron tosses you a tapered sword! You walk forward…

ADDISON: So how does this work exactly?

CAMERON: Like… THIS!

Cameron lunges towards you, jabbing at your chest!

ADDISON: Ahhh!

The strike hits true, poking you in the chest!

ADDISON: Owww!

CAMERON: Touche! Well, that was anticlimactic! Thanks for the practice, Addison! I really needed it!

ADDISON: When this is all over… I’m challenging you to a rematch! All right! That’s running, shooting, and fencing all covered! You’re good to go, right?

CAMERON: Well… kind of. I don’t know. Maybe.

ADDISON: What’s wrong, Cameron? Something bothering you?

CAMERON: Sigh… the truth is, last year when I competed in the Iron Warrior challenge, I didn’t just lose. I got hurt. I overexerted myself in the race, slipped and twisted my leg really bad. I had to be on crutches for two weeks. I thought I was over it. I thought it was fine. But now I’m kind of starting to freak out. What if I get hurt again? I don’t want to go through that. Maybe I should just back out.

ADDISON: No. You can’t do that, Cameron.

CAMERON: Why not?

ADDISON: Because I believe in you. Yeah, you got hurt last year. Since then, you’ve practiced, trained, and done everything you can to improve yourself. Last year is the past. Right now, you’re stronger, faster, and tougher than you were then. You’ve got this, Cameron. I believe in you. You ARE an Iron Warrior.

CAMERON: ...thanks, Addison. You’re right.

ADDISON: Of course I am. Now what do you say? Got time for a little last-minute self-improvement?

CAMERON: You bet I do.

[ Level Cameron | None | 30c ]

ADDISON: How do you feel now?

CAMERON: Fantastic! Amazing! Like I could take on the entire world!

ADDISON: And I’m ready to cheer you on!

CAMERON: Yeah?

ADDISON: Of course! Every warrior needs an entourage, right? I’ll make sure to bring some friends!

[ A Classmate except Cameron, A Classmate except Cameron, A Classmate except Cameron (Bailey, Emery, Hadley) | 40m | 5r ]

EMERY: Look! It’s starting!

HADLEY: Go, Cameron, go!

ADDISON: Run! Shoot! Fence!

---

ADDISON: Cameron won the race by five seconds and tied in the archery contest…

EMERY: But now it’s time to fence, and Cameron’s rival is really good! Look at him go!

ADDISON: Oh no! Cameron stumbled…

HADLEY: It was a feint! Cameron landed the hit, after all! It’s a win!

ADDISON: Yes!

CAMERON: I… I did it! I won! I actually won!

ADDISON: You were amazing out there!

BAILEY: I haven’t seen so much running, shooting, and fencing since my uncle’s wedding!

HADLEY: I don’t know how you did it… but that was straight up incredible.

CAMERON: Thanks, Addison. I never could have done it without you.

ADDISON: No worries. Anything for a friend.