A Devil's Tale

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 light were pests in Nanogh.

What mattered most to the attendants were the messages their clothing told to anyone who knew how to read it. Many who attended wore their familial wealth on their bodies. Glittering and gleaming in the Faerie light. For centuries, the nobles there weighed each other's worth by how many priceless gemstones they wore as both clothing and jewellery. Until the reign of the Thrice-Sworn King.

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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

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

Challenge #04999-M250: Unappealing Case

A litter of wayward kittens, barely weaned, become very attached to "Dex" following him around trying to get cuddles. -- BKF

There's a certain amount of chaos in every life. For example, his father the King had occasionally had to sit the Blood Throne whilst pulling double duty as his infant daughter's favourite bed. The trick, Dad said, was to carry on as if everything was perfectly normal and to let others turn it into a problem.

"And then," Dad said with

Challenge #04996-M247: Informal Test

They had wooden knives with red dye, and were very stealthy on their feet. They came silently at the hellkin, but not to kill. This was merely a test of skill. -- BKF

Of all the truths known to the Martialist community, one is whispered amongst students: Only a Master can beat a Master.

It had rustled its way through the student accommodations in Hidden Cloud on the day that a seventeen-year-old Hellkin had defeated Master Bai in a duel. For weeks,

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

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

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A 75-post collection

Challenge #05014-M265: Message in Threads

Challenge #05013-M264: Secrets Kept Sacred

Challenge #04999-M250: Unappealing Case

Challenge #04996-M247: Informal Test

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