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A Devil's Tale

A 53-post collection

Challenge #04791-M042: Unfamiliar to Some

The human was kind to all, no matter who they were, or what they were. It was tradition in their family that went back generations. So when the badly wounded, nearly unconscious, and very skittish, Kormwind IX was found on the ground in the nearby wood, they brought him into their home, bandaged the wounds, treated fever with medicine, and asked for nothing more than the occasional game of chess or checkers in the evenings if he felt up to it. -- Anon Guest

[AN: The whole point behind Kosh's story is that he never knew a kind touch before he met a certain someone. So this story is ADT-Adjacent]

Woodcutters have a knack for finding things on the job. Mischievous Faekindred, magic items, talking animals, new family members... In all cases, it generally pays to be kind. Verin had held onto that belief even when it hurt him. He insisted on helping wayward souls who crossed her path.

Even when the surprise find was a grown-ass Hellkin mumbling in several tongues. His skin was scorching hot, but Verin had no idea if that was normal for Hellkin.

She could guess that it wasn't, since he was curled in on himself as if in pain.

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Challenge #04788-M039: Passing Notes

"THERE you are you damn teuf!" The brightly dressed dandy of a young lord stomped over to Kormwind X and his party. Shoving a piece of paper in his hand, the dandy turns to storm off. "Drink with your reprobates later, get those supplies NOW!"

The note read, however, --My father's plotting to kill you, please flee town and stay safe.-- -- Anon Guest

There's fighting words, killing words, and fight-for-your-life words. Of the three 'teuf' is usually a clear signal

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Challenge #04768-M019: Power's Responsibility

The kid asked what it was like to be a king. They were made king for the day. After a few hours the kid said it was absolutely no fun and by the end of the day? The kid was very glad they were not the king! -- Anon Guest

"Scuse me mister, are you th' king?"

Kosh had to lean to see who was speaking. Small for one of the Castle Boys, and very new to the uniform, too. He recognised

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Challenge #04767-M018: The Touch of the King

Kormwind X was coming back with their party when they came across a group panicking as one of theirs, one who was young for this, was clutching their chest barely able to breath. Their healer realized the attack was lungs trying to close, and knew what to do. -- Anon Guest

Touring the realm took a lot longer since Dad conquered his way from Earl to King. For the business of the realm to continue, he had to tour it in stages.

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Challenge #04763-M014: Found on the Doorstep

Their back was so injured they couldn't move. The litter they were on was dumped unceremoniously at the cottage of an old devil who raised goats. They had bled and taken injuries for the ones that now ditched them as useless. Yet, they felt no rage. Even if they died here. They got hurt saving people from a monster attack. That, for them, was good enough. -- Anon Guest

Kosh woke to the barking of his goat, Nani, who was convinced that

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Challenge #04759-M010: Seeds of Downfall

I do not normally approve of holding one in chains and forcing them to work against their will. However, you held many in that condition, so your sentence is 10 years living as your slaves did. Don't worry, you won't be killed, or be allowed to die. You can't learn if you're dead. -- Anon Guest

There were some crimes so enormous that the perpetrator simply must suffer as an example to others. Especially the others who think they can get away

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Challenge #04756-M007: Waifs and Strays

"Okay, what happened?"/ "I tried to sneak off with one of the large cheese-baskets."

"Da, I see that, I mean the bruises."/ "The big goat butted me, and wouldn't let me leave my corner until you showed up."

"Come, let's get you cleaned up, fed, then you can learn skills so you don't need to try to steal from an old devil's wife. My husband's having a nap, he can meet you when he wakes." -- Anon Guest

Delia sighed as she

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Challenge #04754-M005: The Better Decision

King Kormwind, tenth of that name. Looked upon the kid that had tried to drive a blade into him.

"What lord sent you?"

The kid shook their head, eyes wide with terror, their thin hands still grasping at a blade long since removed from them.

"Alright, first food, then medical care, then a bath and rest. Then I find out what idiot needs correcting this time." -- Lessons

His dad had warned him about shit like this. He told it as the

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Challenge #04748-L361: Lesson for a Lifetime

Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's being able to do what's necessary, even if you're terrified. -- Anon Guest

Ageratum had heard of the Hellkin in the dojo. Everyone had seen him from a distance and few dared to get close. Now he was closer than she had ever seen him. He was wearing Adept Black and kneeling where any other class teacher might kneel. Waiting for the class to assemble, in peaceful meditation. Hide as blue as a clear spring

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Challenge #04722-L338: Not the Best Laid Plan

When the conspirators are trapped, their plans come to ruin, someone has to be responsible and that one will have to pay the ultimate price for stupidity… -- Deathshead419

It had been a simple enough plan of sorts. Assassinate the new Earl, gain the favour of the old Earl, and perhaps that of the favoured son. It may even gain them the favour of their liege lord for removing an obvious problem. Others who knew of their plot insisted that no good

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Challenge #04716-L332: The Devil in the Rain

"Please... tell me the story of one of the most difficult guests who had found this place to rest?"

~"Oh that would be Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, ninth of his name. Poor paranoid soul. Justifiably so. He'd been poisoned in a place he believed himself safe and did not handle the betrayal very well..." Rezzie furnished Wraithvine with a tankard of light cider and settled one of herselves nearby to relay the story of taking in a storm-bedraggled Hellkin with the disposition

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Challenge #04681-L297: Sage's Advice

They begged the old hellkin to teach them to fight. True the apprentices were no masters and could teach as well, but he had been the first to actually be KIND to them. He didn't exactly teach them to fight.. as much as he did teach them how to accept life. -- Anon Guest

Everyone knew the daft old cheesemonger with a goat he called a dog. To be fair, the Hellkin's miniature goat certainly believed she was a dog and nothing

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Challenge #04644-L260: Good Things and Trouble

The storm raged, the roads were almost impassible, the farmers invited Kormwind and his party to stay for the night. The house was small, but warm and pleasant. Everything was very plain, but very well loved. Horses safe in the barn, everyone spending time with the poor farmers, but this relaxing place, cramped as it was, was more peaceful that then strains of "upper crust" society at the Inns of the elite. -- Anon Guest

[AN: This could be an expansion-pack chapter

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Challenge #04568-L184: Soft Justice

King Kormwind, tenth of that name, is invited to a quiet picnic by the local orphanage. True the food is meager, and the fare is plain, but the companionship is honest, the laughter is genuine, and the children are having fun in the beautiful, open, summer-warmed field. -- Anon Guest

There's nothing like the news of a royal visit to make the authorities do a lightning round of shaping things up. His Majesty, King Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, tenth of the name,

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Challenge #04542-L158: All Due Respect

Careful to whom you speak, and the tone of use. Just remember insult is rarely forgotten, and not all retribution is swift. -- Anon Guest

Night Watch, ten years before the significant event...

Officer Druempf almost missed the moving shadow in the half-light of dawn. "Halt! Who goes there?"

The shadow slowed, sighed and straightened, revealing itself as that double-damned devilborn. The alleged lordling who was the most infamous student of that Elf's school in the landscaping place. "It's only me, Officer,

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