Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons

by Ben Riggs

Kirchoff said, “No, Bob, you don’t understand. I gotta go to a meeting to tell the marketing team about your book. I need to get them excited, and I need a sidekick for Wulfgar.” Salvatore looked at the clock. It was nearly noon. He said, “Look, I won’t take lunch. I’ll work for you, and come up with a sidekick for Wulfgar—” “Bob, you’re not understanding. I’m standing across the hall from a room where I’m late for a meeting with the sales force. And I need a sidekick for Wulfgar.” Salvatore, panic hitting him, said off the top of his head, “A drow.” There was a long pause in Lake Geneva as Kirchoff digested the idea. Salvatore continued, “A drow ranger that fights with two swords. Yeah, that’ll be cool.” Kirchoff said, “A drow? A drow ranger?” “Yeah, it should be cool. Nobody’s ever done that before.” “Bob, there is probably a reason why nobody’s ever done that before.” Salvatore said, “No, no, no, no, that’ll be cool. Drow ranger.” The pair bickered over it a bit more until Kirchoff relented. “Since it’s a sidekick character, I’ll let you get away with it. What’s his name?”