A Devil's Tale

Challenge #03910-J258: An Essential Education

An elderly king learned the retired ruler, Kormwind, Kosh to his friends, was visiting visiting his kingdom. He asked that Kosh be respectfully invited to the palace to give advice to his daughter, who was about to be elevated to queen, and was quite nervous. -- Anon Guest

There was very little indigo left in the old Hellkin's braided locks, any more. He wore no crown, but bore a heavily-varnished Favour next to his house sigil like a prize medal. His lady wife, almost always at his side wore a red dirndl and could have easily been used to promote someone's brand of country-made soap.

Together, political wags still called them "the Teufel and the Teapot." They were the most influential couple in this particular region of Alfarell. The keystones of Pax Infernus. The Thrice-Sworn King and Queen of Wildernesses.

Of course it didn't matter to those who repeated any of that that the lady Cordelia had been Princess-Consort. Of course it didn't matter that the both of them would much rather be cosy in their cottage, making cheese and teaching martial arts and magic to any who came. It mattered that they were here in Tobundola. Teaching the Princess Khalifa everything they knew about staying ahead of the other guy. It mattered that the two senior citizens were the most devious creatures known to civilised life.

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Challenge #03902-J250: Lest Ye Be Judged Also

Most people don't really fear death, though they claim to. What they fear MOST is any potential consequences they may face after they die. I'm a Judge. I just go by what their lives were and what they have the potential to become in the future. It's not the best job in the world, but someone has to do it. -- The New Guy

Of all the duties of the divine, the one feared by mortals the most is the judge. Not

Challenge #03883-J231: Not Available in This Location

The difference between cultures aren't just the things they show off, but the things they assume everyone has, and are baffled that to discover that you don't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5A3gR6f9TM -- Anon Guest

[AN: Offensensitivity warning for swears in the video]

They had been in the service of a devilborn lord for two months, and things had settled down somewhat. There was a routine to the days, and Venn had ceased being so nervous about being so close

Challenge #03836-J184: Learn to Learn

Here, I will teach you, not how to fight, but how to avoid fighting. How to disable your opponents without killing them. Remember, killing is, and always MUST be, only a last resort. -- Anon Guest

"I thought you were a Master of Shadows," sneered Shea, they were not impressed by any of this. Least of all the half-hour wait while Master Kosh meditated in a sunbeam. "Aren't they meant to be assassins?"

The old Hellkin who had once been king by

Challenge #03827-J175: With Justice For All

They were hurting the children born with horns, praising the ones born with wings. Then I became the new Lord of the town. The instigators of such behavior learned quickly I would NOT tolerate such. And all children, born human or not, were to be treated equally. And all citizenry, no matter what their species, were also to be treated equally. THAT is the new law of the land. -- Anon Guest

They call this place Havenspring. According to legend, it's where

Challenge #03821-J169: Where to Draw the Line

Strike me? I don't care, go ahead, I may end up bruised, but I will not be broken. I'll just walk away annoyed, but you may live. Strike the innocent around me? And I will rip your arms off and beat you to death with them. -- Fighting Fit

Only the Master Bai called the resident Hellkin a Lord. It might have been sarcasm. It's hard to tell with Elves. The rest of the Dojo either referred to him as Trainee Hellkin,

Challenge #03807-J155: A Test of Mettle

The soldiers were tired, cranky, and sore. They looked at the young upstart who'd marched them far from where they thought they needed to go. The person wasn't what they wanted in a leader, but they quickly learned, the person was what they had NEEDED as one. -- Anon Guest

Of all the fates that an army could ever despise, it was being under the command of an untried, untested Noble with no knowledge of the battlefield. The stripling prince was barely

Challenge #03773-J120: I Can Do This

What, you think I'm not going to have my workout time just because I'm sick? I think not, my friend! Physical activity, with moderation, keeps the aches and pains away!

I will tone it down, though, and pay attention to my current limits. You don't need to worry, I just don't want to get even stiffer and achier than I have to be. -- Anon Guest

Kosh had picked up more than he was told to at the markets. This wasn't some

Challenge #03765-J112: Raise Them Right

Los estudiantes duros aprenden lecciones de disciplina y respeto de la manera más dura, negándose a escuchar de otra manera. -- Anon Guest

[AN: Translation- Tough students learn lessons of discipline and respect the harshest way, refusing to listen any other way.]

The students called him Sensei Hellkin, when they called him anything at all. They couldn't know anything about his true identity because he never spoke about it. That, and it probably wouldn't matter a whit to them that he was

Challenge #03728-J075: Monstrous Hero

The world is chaos. It’s neither fair nor sensible. It wrongs heroes and breeds scums. It is rife with ugliness without a trace of beauty. The malice of the world shall be sundered

By the villain. -- Anon Guest

The Thrice-Sworn was coming. Not yet a King, but the Prophecies called him one. Those in the palaces were terrified of him. Whispers abounded, and Anika couldn't believe half of them.

Won his title in blood. Bearer of a curse. Some said

Challenge #03706-J053: Vision Hazy, Try Again

A young goblin has a problem. Way too many of the dreams they have at night tend to come true. Especially the bad dreams. No one listens to a goblin's warnings, though. They end up asking for help. -- Anon Guest

Kosh didn't think much about it. The staff that did most of the work in the Trollhead Tavern had taken the broom from him so he could serve customers and bus tables. Honestly, he was just glad that the clientele didn't

Challenge #03703-J050: For Love of You

When you feel sad and tired, remember that I always love you. This vibrating heart, even my lips can vibrate too. -- Anon Guest

Cordelia could read her husband the Earl Kormwind like a book. More accurately, she could read it like a street pamphlet handed out by any group with an agenda. One made to reach the most people with the simplest message.

It was in the lashing of his tail, the angle he held his head, and the way his

Challenge #012: Versatile Lessons of the Crown

“Your daughter is doing something ridiculous”

looks at the father doing the exact same thing

“Ah I see, it’s hereditary” -- Anon Guest

Duke Garibald Tansie would never admit out loud that he was slightly ashamed of his King. There were several good reasons, starting with the fact that Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, ninth of the name, was devilborn. A Hellkin.

There was also the matter of his upbringing. Sent to the other side of the world to learn martial arts

Challenge #03597-I308: The Land and its Lord Are One

Society is a massive tree. If those roots run deep, are healthy and diverse, the tree can stand for a millennia. But even for that society to grow, it needs a healthy, well-grown, seed. When the seed begins to rot, a tree will never flourish. -- Anon Guest

Elves began as arboreal creatures in the Plane of Magic, better known as Nanogh. When a population or two found their way to the Mortal Plane, they thought it pristine and unpopulated. They really

Challenge #03596-I307: The Doom of the Thrice-sworn King

He hasn’t done any thing wrong. If anything, I’m the hopeless one here, of course instilling fear and murdering humans is not right. Plus, waging a full-scale war against them is an unforgiving act. Even so, there’s something I want to change, even if it's built on rocky foundations. I want humans to unite. Even if it's using the coming the next demon lord as a pretext.

Peace cannot be realized on ideals alone.

He's got some real power.

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A 22-post collection

Challenge #03910-J258: An Essential Education

Challenge #03902-J250: Lest Ye Be Judged Also

Challenge #03883-J231: Not Available in This Location

Challenge #03836-J184: Learn to Learn

Challenge #03827-J175: With Justice For All

Challenge #03821-J169: Where to Draw the Line

Challenge #03807-J155: A Test of Mettle

Challenge #03773-J120: I Can Do This

Challenge #03765-J112: Raise Them Right

Challenge #03728-J075: Monstrous Hero

Challenge #03706-J053: Vision Hazy, Try Again

Challenge #03703-J050: For Love of You

Challenge #012: Versatile Lessons of the Crown

Challenge #03597-I308: The Land and its Lord Are One

Challenge #03596-I307: The Doom of the Thrice-sworn King