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A Devil's Tale

A 58-post collection

Challenge #04836-M087: Taking the Time

The king offered a boon, it was, respectfully, turned down. A gift, then, was offered of a new checker board, hir's was getting old and some pieces had gone missing. This was accepted, but only if he'd be willing to sit and play a game or two.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04791-m042-unfamiliar-to-some -- Anon Guest

What fascinated Verin about her request was that the Thrice-Sworn King did not go out and purchase a new board from a shop. He gathered materials and tools to make it himself. With the help of his wife and the interference of his children. Who, judging solely by the tone of voice, he attempted to teach.

They were small children in a new place. Nothing was going to maintain their attention for long.

Verin could at least help herd them. Human and Hellkin alike were much happier than their father, and even picked up a functional amount of Woods Elven, enough to correct their dad's grammar and pronunciation. The fact that those corrections were greeted with cheer and respectful attempts told Verin all she needed to know about her once-patient's skill as a parent.

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Challenge #04833-M084: A Lesson to Last

Kormwind, Dex to his friends, is being followed around by two youngsters, a human child and hir hellkin twin. When asked why they follow, the children ask to be taught to cook, taught to make things, taught to grow things, so they won't go hungry again. And the other children in the home won't go hungry anymore, either. -- Anon Guest

[AN: This has to happen while he was off being an Adventurer and not a Prince]

Dex had been viewing his

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Challenge #04829-M080: Work/Play Balance

A youngster sneaks up behind "Dex" and pokes his side and says "tag, you're it!" and runs off giggling. He and his friends were helping a renovation project the children's hospital had badly needed. -- The New Guy

When is a king not a king? When he's not doing the king's job. Dex, like his father before him, had his sleeves rolled up to help out with something that needed to be done. It was better than sitting in his office and

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Challenge #04818-M069: Permission to Ask

During court, king Kormwind, tenth of that name, finds himself having a toddler climbing up in his lap and, sucking their thumb, and full of trust, falling asleep. Where are the parents? Near the kitchens exhaustedly trying to handle six other children, most of whom were at that stage of sleepy where they get wilder and grumpy due to being overtired, and trying to figure out where their toddler went. -- Anon Guest

People often thought that only the Nobles lived in

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Challenge #04798-M049: Using All Avenues

Another died of the 'plague' that leaves the body rake thin. Always recorded as an illness. The red king, the tax-collectors told them, demanded this tribute. She fled to stop the plague, stop the red king, if the lord wouldn't do it, she would.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04754-m005-the-better-decision -- Anon Guest

Famines were generally the product of administrative mismanagement. It was very rare for a famine to be the direct result of consecutive disasters. The lands of the Red King

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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. --

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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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