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Challenge #05018-M269: Far-Reaching Kindness

The therapists struggled to try to get them to care about their own life, at least a little. Their self-sacrificing, working to aid others to the point of detriment to their health had become starkly noticeable to say the least. Then Jay came in to talk to them, and soon left angry, and began hunting. -- BKF

Civilisation is relative, depending entirely on those naming it such. This is doubly so in the Edge Territories, where some species view their Ship's Human as an incredibly useful pet.

Those species are new to how things really work. They'll learn better soon enough.

The baby steps start here, in Meetwell Station, where the species and polities in or beyond the Edge Territories can meet with Alliance Representatives without judgement. Well. Not a lot of judgement.

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Challenge #05017-M268: Time to Smell the Flowers

I've watched over this house a long time, never had problems with inhabitants being a problem until now. This human keeps pushing themselves finishing all the work. I like having something to do, so I'm going to start slipping something in their evening tea to make them sleep, so I can have work, too. -- BKF

[AN: May be in relation to Little Tricks ]

Some people have no clue. They're not willfully ignorant or under-educated. They know what they need to know

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Challenge #05016-M267: Its Inventor's Voice

A human listens to a very strange, and ancient, device. A music player that uses cylinder shaped medium. -- BKF

If there is one truth in the Galactic Alliance, it is that the Archivaas will preserve, restore, and archive everything. Anything and everything Humanity made, at first, but then everything and anything that Humanity encountered. Documents, recordings, items, and sometimes animals.

Every kind of media and every means of experiencing it.

It's easy to get lost in their mega-complexes, so they take

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Challenge #05015-M266: Let it Shine

the voice of a devil, in this sacred place- doesn’t sound much different than an angel -- Weirdlet

The Dawn Lord, known in the northern realms as Albavaljeta[1], is well known as the god of life, rebirth, new beginnings, and sometimes also fertility. So it's understandable that their temples often become alternate depositories for unwanted babies[2].

It's far from unusual to see the temple grounds being maintained by young acolytes of Halfbreds of the Unwelcome People. And Hellkin of

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Challenge #05014-M265: Message in Threads

What you wear is a statement. Especially if you go to Renfairs -- Knitnan.

Sparknight began as a foundry for peace between Nanogh and Mundis Mortalidae. The Plane of Magic and the Mortal Plane. The mortal nobility were charged with attending by invitation in their most extravagant wear. The Arch-Elves of Nanogh were charged with the lighting that would show it off for a maximum of aesthetic appreciation.

The mortals either didn't know or chose to ignore that the Sprites providing that

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Challenge #05013-M264: Secrets Kept Sacred

The midwives’ guild has seen some strange things- and sometimes discretion is the most important thing they can offer -- Weirdlet

When is a Guild not a Guild? When it has no chapterhouses, no schools, and little in the way of formal prenticeships. When there is no set uniform and the tools are those that the practitioners find handy, and are only available locally. Where the school is at two pairs of knees, and one is the patient. Yet, despite all of

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Challenge #05012-M263: Surprise Royal Appointment

Dex and his family are invited to a surprise party for a local group of kids who admitted they'd never had a birthday party before. -- BKF

Many children attending the Arachismont Public School went by one name. Many also stayed in the attached boardinghouse and went home for the weekend. It was an initiative so that many children could interact with their contemporaries as normal. There were no ranks beyond personal accomplishment. Those who were ahead were expected to help those

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Challenge #05011-M262: DIY Entertainment

Unfortunately, the Ship's Human was bored -- InterNutter

Long haul missions are no place for an active Human. Nevertheless, every ship with business in the Alliance is better off with at least one Ship's Human. The best hope is to have enough enrichment strategies to keep their Human or Humans entertained between destinations.

The crew of the Pack Animal Pilgrim had never thought that a Human could get bored with the enrichment.

They had complete access to the Archivaas' digital library. All

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Challenge #05010-M261: Driving Purpose

So tired they could barely think straight, they forced themselves forward, just one more ridge, one more rise... until they collapsed against a beautiful white feline being talking to two individuals wearing bright colors and passed out. -- BKF

One more step. Just get there. Not far now. Lift one foot. Place it in front. Follow the path. Lift the other one. Place it in front. Look up. See the camp.

Goal in sight.

Tents and vehicles spread out in a previously

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Challenge #05009-M260: Be it Ever so Patchwork

It was stormy and a mixed family of hellkin and haruk'ai were stuck, the wheel of their carriage in the mud. Two kids run out to drag them to the large farmhouse, leading the family's horses to the barn, so they can find rest and shelter. The two kids, still preteens, were trying to care for the farm and what's left of its animals by themselves, their own families, sadly, gone. -- BKF

Unwelcome People are, generally speaking, always prepared to run.

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Challenge #05008-M259: To Learn is to Teach

The exchange program at the magic school has been going swimmingly- but it’s made for some interesting learning experiences well outside the classroom, as different cultures- and species- learn how the other half does magic. -- Weirdlet

War is wearying. It's especially wearying for the longer-lived species that have the alleged privilege of watching several polities repeat the same mistake ad infinitum. It's even more wearying when the mistake is in attacking them.

There's also the creeping dread that one day,

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Challenge #05007-M258: Handle With Extreme Care

The local wizards’ college is doing well enough, but a formal complaint has been lodged against them by the caretaking staff about garbage collection.

The students need a crash course. If it glows, buzzes, or moves, tell the staff before they pick it up… -- Tergon

Properly trained and educated, a Wizard is no threat unless they want to become one. Trained Wizards know what they're doing. It's the ones still in training that you have to watch out for.

They're lazy,

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Challenge #05006-M257: Little Tricks

"The Eater of Socks" Blamed by Sir Terry but who or what steals socks, pens, the thing you had in your hand 5 seconds ago. -- Knitnan

There had been six socks in the washtub when Ygrun started hir laundry. Five remained to hang on the line. The chalk was missing from hir reminder-list slate, and ze swore ze had put it on the shelf by the door. Hir knitting was left on one needle, and the other was gone without a

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Challenge #05005-M256: Handy Gifts

Just what every girl needs! My own tool kit. -- Knitnan

The gift was way too heavy to be a new purse. Too large to be the makeup kit she'd been drooling over. Too small to be any part of a cute new outfit. Which meant that, once again, Dad had no flying clue about her.

Baeronice opened it anyway, and felt her heart sink. Blocky. Utilitarian pouch. Black, hard-wearing fabric often touted by the Survivalist Bros that Dad watched on his

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Challenge #05004-M255: The Shape of Fear

Sometimes, to change a world and save lives, you only have to LOOK scary. The rest does everything else on its own. -- BKF

The Xenophobia Wars rarely raged. They ebbed and flowed like the tides, if tides could wash randomly through polities at their own whims. The Elves fought the Dragons, D'varuv, Harukh'ai, Drakkonbred, and Dragonkindred alike. They fought the Gobellin, Gnomes, and when there were Humans, they fought the Humans too.

And when the Elves weren't fighting them, they were

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