Maybe it's just me, but a story that ended with 'And the hero shot the dragon dead with his Barrett m82. Then he went back to town and had a good meal and a pleasant night's sleep. The End' would be just a little disappointing.
Even if real life it'd be the smartest way to handle such a situation, provided such a weapon was available. And I've known of a lot of tabletop gamers who love set-ups like that. Of course they complain when the monsters start fighting smart, too.
Ah, but you see even if he kills the dragon with a sword -- which generally takes a sentence or two, no more -- it doesn't end there. He then has deal, usually, with a treacherous attempt to usurp his claim. The princess may have to prove that he's the real dragon-slayer.
I wonder if there's ever been a story where, after the dragon is slain, the hero has to deal with everyone and their kid brother showing up to argue that part of the dragon's hoard is theirs? The only one I can really think of is The Hobbit, where the Wood Elves and Men of Dale show up to claim 'their rightful share' of Smaug's hoard.
I have only advanced to crossbows, telescopes, and magical bombs in my fantasy world.
Years ago, I read part of a series where there were gunpowder mages. The Powder Mage trilogy.
But I doubt they could be called Fairy Tales.
Nope. I'm sticking strictly to the folk-roots definition of fairy tale.
Maybe it's just me, but a story that ended with 'And the hero shot the dragon dead with his Barrett m82. Then he went back to town and had a good meal and a pleasant night's sleep. The End' would be just a little disappointing.
Even if real life it'd be the smartest way to handle such a situation, provided such a weapon was available. And I've known of a lot of tabletop gamers who love set-ups like that. Of course they complain when the monsters start fighting smart, too.
Ah, but you see even if he kills the dragon with a sword -- which generally takes a sentence or two, no more -- it doesn't end there. He then has deal, usually, with a treacherous attempt to usurp his claim. The princess may have to prove that he's the real dragon-slayer.
I wonder if there's ever been a story where, after the dragon is slain, the hero has to deal with everyone and their kid brother showing up to argue that part of the dragon's hoard is theirs? The only one I can really think of is The Hobbit, where the Wood Elves and Men of Dale show up to claim 'their rightful share' of Smaug's hoard.
Possibly in epic. Not in fairy tales.