Alfarell

A 296-post collection

Challenge #03871-J219: Learned the Wrong Lesson

A strange malady strikes a village, everyone under the age of 12 starts dancing every single night from midnight until 1 in the morning, unable to stop until they collapse. Even infants moving in the rhythm. They need help, soon! -- Anon Guest

They tell cautionary tales about a little hamlet in the middle of nowhere. The piper rid the place of rats and, when they refused to pay, rid the place of their children. The lesson should be, "pay those who do the work" and NOT "kill your contractors."

Now the vengeful ghost of the bard wanders the streets between midnight and dawn. The mournful melody takes children from their beds and, still sleeping, sends them tripping and skipping about as if dancing to a merry tune. Even babies in their cradles writhe as if they were merry.

They spend their days exhausted. Footsore and lax even if they try to stir themselves. Those who tried too hard to help their families fell sick. They needed rest. They needed nursing. Some would barely eat.

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Challenge #03866-J214: A Decent Start

"I admire you, you're never afraid of anything, you're so strong. I'm weak, a coward."

"Who said I'm not afraid?"

"But... you always manage to get through these things no matter how bad things get."

"Kid, here's the thing. I'm often afraid while I do this job. But the trick is to control your fear, take a deep breath, and keep going. It's ok to be afraid, just.. don't let it stop you. Fear can be your friend making you remember to

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Challenge #03855-J203: Dragon, Curse, Knight

I realize that I am a dragon and they are a human. But I will raise this infant like they were my own. I found them lost, filthy, starving, and alone. I'm not willing to risk them ending up that way again. -- Anon Guest

This is my child. I will guard hir and guide hir. I will protect hir and teach hir. Of course I committed to feeding hir and keeping hir clean. It is not easy, but it is my

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Challenge #03847-J195: Shadow Strategy

"You owe me."

"I knew it.... what's the price?"

"Never EVER let me hear you calling yourself weak ever again."

..."bu...but I...."

"You are NOT weak, it's time you realized that." -- Anon Guest

Lessons had been going on for a year. On schedule or off schedule, Master Kosh always seemed to have the time. Even when he was in the middle of making cheese.

Every failure seemed to grate against Ami's spirits. She desperately wanted to be better at everything,

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Challenge #03845-J193: Turn of Fate

They put a knockout in the tea they served to everyone, and left a note of apology by the sleeping forms. A tear slid down a tired face, weapons strapped on, this would be the last battle. Live or die, the danger would finally be over. But this time, their friends would be spared, they would face it alone. -- Anon Guest

Promise Hardbattle had made the tea ceremony a ritual before facing any enemy. He and his friends sharing one last

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Challenge #03840-J188: Foundling Families

A dying human with a kind heart had been given a Wishing Stone. Clutched in the elderly hand, they made their wish. All children, especially infants, in their world abandoned in middens, abandoned in the forests, or otherwise left to die in would vanish from the place that would otherwise be their deathbeds, and reappear in a place there they could be safe and grow up cared for. That final wish, cost them their final breath, but they died peacefully knowing many

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Challenge #03838-J186: Pax Nuptias or Pax Infernus

The two want to wed, their countries are at war, their love, forbidden. Then they get the idea of how to end the war. Pretend to suggest political marriages, pretend to be reluctant, trick their families to do what will end the war, and allow their love. -- Anon Guest

There'd been far fewer wars since Pax Infernus began. The nations fearful of the Demon Lord resorted to icy politeness and sports matches. Wars of words carried on between bitter enemies, florid

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Challenge #03835-J183: Through Dangers Untold...

Thirty floors, tons of traps and treasures, good thing this place is good for training beginners though. -- Anon Guest

Some have called it the worst dungeon in Alfarell. There's thousands of ways to get in. There's even more ways to get out, especially if you're not fussy about how clean you are when you reach the sunlight. Some say the labyrinths of Skymire's fallen city were never meant to be a dungeon. Some say that adventuring down there is a scam.

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Challenge #03830-J178: One Wish Away

What is this? It's a Wish-Mirror. It shows you the hard, cold, truth to what will happen if you make your wish. It does not sugar coat anything. If you can live with what you see, then I will grant you a wish. But remember, you saw the consequences for yourself, so it's not like you have not been forewarned. -- Anon Guest

If you have a wish, and want it guaranteed, there is only one way to get it. It is

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Challenge #03829-J177: A Bird Named Enza

All the magic users in a town are down with the sniffles. The stronger the magic, the worse they feel. Alas, even viruses can be magical. In this case, it's just another type of cold. People'll survive, it's just not comfortable. -- Anon Guest

The most common name for it was the Faekindred Flu since first it effected those whose ancestry hailed from Nanogh, the plane of magic. The local Hellkin and Hallobloods were also struck down, but prejudice rendered them less

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Challenge #03828-J176: Shared Profundity

I saved their life, risking my own. As I lay, my broken body bandaged, I was asked, what did I want in return? After a long thought I said I wanted the lifespan of an Elf, and to become a librarian. When they asked if they could choose any elf's lifespan, I said that was fine. Here it is, a millennium later, and I, a mere human, have been working in this library ever since. -- Anon Guest

[AN: In terms of

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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

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Challenge #03825-J173: Educational Reforms

The pressure to do evil is immense, if there comes a day when I must “Discipline” you, please believe me that my only thought is of… protecting you. -- Anon Guest

Some traditions in education have to die. Some have to be actively murdered. Forcing left-handed people to only use their right hands, for instance. Or... being very strict with the Unwelcome Peoples.

"It's necessary," insisted Scholar Administator Brogitarius Zenonis, straight into the face of one of the Unwelcome. The fact that

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Challenge #03820-J168: The Fine Tradition of Hautboll

An Academy for Tieflings aka Hellkin, and an Academy for Humans come together once a year for a friendly inter-academy competition. This has been a very old tradition in this nation. It's sad that outsiders keep trying to push their bigoted ways and wreck the tradition. When will they learn that THIS nation doesn't discriminate like that? -- Anon Guest

[AN: Hellkin are of course a totally original creation not at all based on anything that WOTC might have accidentally released on

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Challenge #03818-J166: The First Thing

They had immense power, they had been gifted, though they would say cursed, with immortality. But what to do with it? Money wasn't exactly an interest, and they hated the idea of settling down and owning land, that would drive them nuts after a while. Who was that famous person again, that living god? Oh that's right, go to the temple of helping hands! Maybe they can give advice! -- The New Guy

Most immortals never come by it on purpose. Even

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