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Mara Lynn Johnstone

@marlynnofmany.bsky.social

7.4K followers 6.1K following 4.4K posts

Author of science fiction and fantasy. Exploring the multiverse, with pens, pencils and enthusiasm! She/her. Further shenanigans all over the internet and at MaraLynnJohnstone.com

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Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · Dec 20

I don't know about you, but I've been making up stories since I could talk, & writing them down since shortly after.

In 5th grade, I decided that since I probably (probably) wouldn't get to ride a dragon / turn into a dragon etc, I'd write about it all instead.

Here's a thread of my books so far!🧵

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Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 5h

Makes sense to me!

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 7h

#DnD

We'll have the vampire cleric interrogate the dead robot next time. Right now, we have a real-world dinner that's All Of The Garlic Bread (ironic) And Also The Ham. It smells amazing, and the cleric isn't invited.

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 7h

#DnD

The cleric we call in is, naturally, a vampire. The urchins think this is the coolest thing.

Kid: "Oh wow! Can you make the dragon into a vampire too?"

Vampire: "No, that would be terribly irresponsible."

Robot: "And he's already got sharp teeth. It's not like he'd get anything out of it."

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Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 7h

#DnD

"That was a successful party! Only a minor disruption, quickly dealt with."

"Yeah, we'll deal with that dead guy in the cart later."

"Is he dead or just deactivated?"

"He walked into my sword. He walked into my sword fifteen times."

"We can still interrogate him. We know some clerics."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 7h

#DnD

Checking in at home via scrying crystal shows that Avonicus the demon is playing chess against JerkBird the fae familiar. Most likely both are cheating, and that's the real game. They're having a great time.

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 7h

#DnD

Prince: *gives a speech, ends on a pun*

Bartender: "All right, everybody get off my bar. I'm trying to serve drinks here, and now there's footprints."

Mage: "Nonsense, my feet don't touch the ground."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Mage: *gives a heartfelt speech that brings tears to the eyes of many people in the crowd, to hearty applause*

Mage, muttering: "I need a drink. I just said unironically 'You are the pride of Pride Rock.' I need SEVERAL drinks."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Orc: "Mr Skyhunter, we didn't know you were coming. I'd hate to be uncouth and offer you some sort of family as food, but we had a run-in with a dragon turtle..."

Dragon: "No relation. They're not actually dragons."

Orc: "Oh good. You want some in the shell as a bowl?"

Dragon: "Hilarious."

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Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Mage, to dragon: "I would have to be riding on your back. Standing up, to look properly impressive, of course."

DM: "There are already people who think you're the avatar of an avenging god. You're not beating the allegations."

Mage Player: "I never tried to!"

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

The dragon has learned that there might be a way for him to get that same kind of speed boost with a certain type of magical ring.

Boss: "It would be custom-made, and very expensive."

Dragon, grinning: "My little friend, that is what a hoard is for."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Mage, explaining to Dragon: "It's the kind of magical boost that only works with family of some sort, not just another magician. Dart wouldn't be able to do it. Right, Dart?"

Detective, shoving a dead assassinbot into a cart: "What? Yes, right. Gu'Yassa, take this."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

"There's going to be an article in the big-town newspaper later that's something like 'Local Town Is A Dangerous Place To Live, But Throws Great Parties.'"

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Detective: *teleports over, stabs the assassinbot, then sheathes his sword and looks innocent*

Bystanders: *still looking at the dragon and the returning airship*

Detective: "Nothing to see here. This guy just had too much to drink."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

There's a third robot who still has glowing eyes, but a guard just got him with the Psychic Damage Cocktail we prepared ahead of time. He'll be fine. Eventually.

The instigator currently getting punched by the robots though, turns out to be an assassinbot in disguise. About to get whooped.

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Shanty uses two Mind Whips on two of the three affected robots, which snaps them out of it.

"Huh? Did I miss something?"

"Yes. Punch that guy."

*the robots lay into the iced-over guy who started this*

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Robot: "Hm, I could use my sword here, or Mind Whip."

Robot: *glowy magical whipcrack* "Bad robot! No evil for you!"

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Suspicious Guy: *pats a robot on the back*

That Robot: *starting to go into mind control*

Detective: "I'm just going to shoot first this time." *blasts the suspicious guy with ice magic*

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Mage Player: "When we fly back, I've made a martini from my supplies on board. Yes, I fly smoothly enough to not spill a martini. That's a flex. In real life, I'll spill it just *saying* 'martini.'"

DM: "And Lyrrol lights a cigarette on Lucy's lightning ring. You both look very cool."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

So the dragon's enhanced speed IS impressive, but the airship rocketing off at Ludicrous Speed with an almighty thunderclap that splits the sky is much more so.

Partygoers: "Wow, cool! ...This is the weirdest party I've ever been to."

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Mage & Boss: *about to do secret airship boost magic*

Detective: *suggests that Melvin casts Haste on the dragon*

Detective, to the goblins: "We need popcorn for this race, stat!"

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 8h

#DnD

Mage: *boards airship, along with Boss, who's less drunk*

Dragon: *shakes off the children climbing on him*

Urchins: "Aww, Uncle Hunter."

("Hunter?")

("They think his first name is Sky, and his last name is Hunter.")

("Ohhh, got it.")

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 9h

#DnD

Mage, drunk: "Hey Skyhunter, wanna race?"

Dragon: "...Sure."

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Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 9h

#DnD

Detective: "I am not touching alcohol during this festival. I know that SOMETHING will go wrong, and I don't want to be drunk for it."

Mage: "I know that something will happen whether or not I have a drink, and I don't wanna be sober for it."

DM: "Roll constitution!"

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Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 9h

The turkey was waiting to watch the D&D game through the window when we're not paying attention.

Mara Lynn Johnstone @marlynnofmany.bsky.social · 9h

#DnD

Turns out introducing the dragon to the prince does a lot to calm down the skittish townsfolk.

That and the kids climbing all over him.

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