A Devil's Tale

Challenge #04972-M223: Like an Unwanted Cat

You're alive. How... unfortunate. -- Luna

Earl Valiant Stormwight Hallowfine Whitekeep was in the best place in his world. Respected by his Barons, absolute authority in his realm, and everyone in his power obeyed his every word. Everyone in his castle bent to his whims. His favoured son was just like him, even if the boy did run off to take the Grand Tour without Valiant's express permission.

The situation was still controllable. He had mercenaries on the case to track Spitebane down and bring the boy back alive and whole.

Valiant needed his chosen heir by his side. It was of vital import to the realm. A state secret that could mean life and death for the entire world. A secret only he knew, and dared not write nor speak aloud. A secret best kept secure inside his own head.

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Challenge #04970-M221: I'm the Badguy?

No more villainry -- Luna

Master of the Shadow Arts, Bai Niyurufanthur, had joined many other citizens of Wolklippenstadt in the circus' audience. It was a rather excellent show. Bai lingered for the sideshows and games, seeking some games to reveal as fraudulent or rigged.

A Master of the Martialist Art of Shadows could not fail at a carnival game unless it was truly rigged.

He never got to try them, since he found a scene that distracted him entirely. One very

Challenge #04967-M218: On My Honour

What honor have you? -- Luna

Boatswain Laurantz knew in his soul that having a Hellkin on board was bad luck. He and Captain Haaloch had both witnessed a cat following the nameless blue devilborn onto the ship. Any man followed by a cat was supposed to be good luck. Therefore, the argument went that the luck cancelled out and he was no better nor worse than any other man.

There was one thing a Hellkin couldn't stop being, and that was

Challenge #04966-M217: Unbreakable?

I haven't forgotten my promise -- Luna

Some things have unbreakable sticking power. A Hellkin's loyalty to someone with a kind heart, for example. The Faekindred's general prediliction towards duplicity and double meanings. And, of course, a heartfelt oath that includes the shedding of blood.

The blood of the oathtaker, of course. Anyone's or anything else does not count. That is how the gods know that it's serious.

That's what put the gods onto watching the oathtaker in question. Readying disasters and

Challenge #04944-M195: Letter Campaign

A malicious letter writing campaign forces Lord Kormwind to implement a restrictive policy in regards to mail coming into Whitekeep. This has unforeseen consequences. -- Deathshead419

[AN: I can't easily imagine what might lead to such things in Whitekeep. Origins outside of Whitekeep can work]

A king of conquest is generally expected to encounter the need for more conquest. In such a way, empires are wont to grow. King Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, ninth of his name, stopped short of controlling enough

Challenge #04933-M184: As You Wish

In an alternate timeline, Earl Valiant Whitekeep catches wind that the elder God Wothyn is regaining strength thanks to the return of his son and his rival. With his wife heavily pregnant, he begs the elder God for help averting the curse. As he's made a deal with the hangman god and worded his request foolishly, this can only end well for everyone not named Valiant Whitekeep. -- Deathshead419

Whitekeep owed allegiance to Tyr by long and ancient tradition. The ancient Warlock

Challenge #04926-M177: Damned Foolish Stunt

Tilting at windmills -- Deathshead419

Kosh would have to apologise to Artie for insisting this mobile chair be disposable. Even though the autonomous automaton's face was immobile, it nevertheless managed o convey heatbreak and disappointment when he told it, "The chair won't last long anyway. Just make sure it will last long enough."

He'd have a lot of apologies to make if he survived this.

First and most importantly, to his beloved Cordelia, for making her wait nine months for his return

Challenge #04925-M176: In Good Company

It's dangerous to go alone -- Spare AMitA Prompt

Pipi raised the sacred weapon and hollered the sacred vow, "I found a stick onna ground, an' now I'm gonna use it! All the power that I found, I don't wanna abuse it!" Their voice echoed in the streets and no other kids called challenge. Nobody else called dibs. The obvious next thing to do was become a Hero.

Which meant that Pipi needed to become a protector and helper to the poor,

Challenge #04924-M175: Trust to Not Fall

Leap of Faith -- Spare AMitA Prompt

For such a small stone, the Icon of Edass weighed heavily inside a fold of Kosh's gi. As he raced across the rooftops of Arbordeep, he had to wonder how much of the stretched truth he told to Xiolein was something he covertly believed.

It was so easy to believe the artifact was cursed. Those who sought it had killed so many of those who held it. As well as unnumbered innocent bystanders who had

Challenge #04880-M131: Bad Omens Rise

King Krivcol III had a brush with death at a young age. Now he relies upon astrologers to gauge his future, planning out every detail of his and his family's lives. But his growing paranoia with what's to come may be blinding him to problems around him in the here and now... -- Deathshead419

Many heads of state had advisors. Some had viseers, some had chancellors, come had cabinets of experts. King Krivkol Florentus Montgomerie Oralendo Montecroix, third of his name, had

Challenge #04864-M115: Always Welcome

Dex was taking a vacation from the palace with his family. Unfortunately, it becomes quite stormy. But, fortunately, his parents' place wasn't far, and it'd been quite a while since they'd visited the farm. -- Anon Guest

They had been on their way to Waelrin's capital and castle when the threatening storm started to beat their carriage around. The good news, for King Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, tenth of his name (Dex to his friends), was that they were close to Dromlynne.

Challenge #04858-M109: Hated Unreasonably on Sight

Life's most valuable lessons often come from the strangest places. -- Prompty.

Viscount Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, ninth of his name (aged seven), had been kept busy learning all the things a young Viscount needed to know. Dressage, Dancing, Diplomacy, Archery, Arts, Economics, it went on and on. He was allowed some hours free to spend in his own pursuits. Which, until he needed to replace some art supplies, Kormwind he had spent in the Dojo's library.

He carried his papers, of

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

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

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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A 70-post collection

Challenge #04972-M223: Like an Unwanted Cat

Challenge #04970-M221: I'm the Badguy?

Challenge #04967-M218: On My Honour

Challenge #04966-M217: Unbreakable?

Challenge #04944-M195: Letter Campaign

Challenge #04933-M184: As You Wish

Challenge #04926-M177: Damned Foolish Stunt

Challenge #04925-M176: In Good Company

Challenge #04924-M175: Trust to Not Fall

Challenge #04880-M131: Bad Omens Rise

Challenge #04864-M115: Always Welcome

Challenge #04858-M109: Hated Unreasonably on Sight

Challenge #04836-M087: Taking the Time

Challenge #04833-M084: A Lesson to Last

Challenge #04829-M080: Work/Play Balance