Alfarell

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 fighting with each other. Each had their own advantages, except the Humans. The downtrodden underdogs to whimper against the threat of all other downtrodden underdogs.

So the Humans figured out how to cheat, and appeal to higher powers. Or, more accurately, lower ones. That's how Hellkin came to be a part of the society, yet always forced outside of it. Tolerated only when they were useful. Like Palisade, who lived in the city wall and kept the Fair Folk away.

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Challenge #05003-M254: Worthy Becoming

Find out who you are, and then do it on purpose -- Weirdlet

[AN: Hats off and respect to Dolly Parton, who lived by those words and is an example to us all]

There's no record of the first Halfbred. None know who they were, what their ancestry was, or how well they may have lived. Common conjecture posits that it was how Drakkonbred became a species, but some people will theorise anything.

In certain centuries, Halfbred folk were rare. It was

Challenge #05001-M252: Circle of Kindness

A part of the boogey's bitterness was the people before, the ones who were driven out and the house slowly fell to state it was in, was they put POISON in the milk. The child had heard that much, and one of the gifts, thanks to her family's help, were little pouches of antidotes and treatments for symptoms that can last ages from such poisonings.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04982-m233-redemption-from-horror -- BKF

The special powder came in a small, waxed paper

Challenge #04998-M249: Heart of the Hearth

On a cold, rainy, night, it's very peaceful to sit by the fire listening to the rain drum the roof, while your cat purrs contentedly in your lap. -- BKF

The weather outside was truly frightful. Cold rain that was almost sleeting. Blustery winds that turned said rain in varying slants that would render umbrellas nigh to useless.

A perfect evening for relaxing indoors.

Arelgi had set up a nest of blankets and pillows near the fireplace and, with dinner in her

Challenge #04993-M244: All a Part of...

"You are a Healer, a doctor"/ Yes I am.

"Yet you are a devout follower of Mistress Dark"/ Yes I am

"But you fight Her constantly."/ No I don't.

"I don't understand."/ I do what I can to save my patients, alleviate pain, treat illness and injury. But when She comes, and there is no way back, I can at least give them comfort in knowing they do not journey to the next world alone. -- BKF

Hospitals do double duty as

Challenge #04987-M238: I Wanna Be Just Like You

"I want to be a Hellkin."

Why?

"Because they're the only ones who ever showed what real kindness is." -- BKF

Everyone thinks 'Hellkin' when they hear the phrase "Unwelcome People". The thing is, they're not the only Unwelcome People. It alters according to realm, politics, and local prejudice. But you can rely on Hellkin being among that number[1].

They accrete in ghettos or spend their years wandering from one locale to another. Trying for the most part to find somewhere

Challenge #04985-M236: De-Escalation Tactics

people often yearn for what they loathe. It makes for good business opportunities for the beloathed, but you have to watch your back- or have other unwelcome watch it for you. -- Weirdlet

They called her Passion, though her name for herself was Reprieve. A statuesque beauty, even though she was a Hellkin. Poems had been written about her hair. Odes dedicated to her singing voice. People who would rebuke and revile Hellkin like her leaped to grovel in mud lest she

Challenge #04983-M234: Humble Little Sanctuary

She is only able to bear Hellkin despite being human. She doesn't care. She loves all of her children deeply and makes sure they know that, despite the prejudice far too many have toward them, they are innocent souls. And she, in turn, is very much loved by her children, both born and adopted. -- BKF

The nursery rhyme starts, There was an old woman who lived in a shoe... and it's nearly accurate. The 'shoe' was allegedly an ossified footbag that

Challenge #04982-M233: Redemption From Horror

Despite what the legends say, the boogeyman is very real. And instead of living underneath your bed or inside of your closet, this creature rests comfortably within your very own home. -- Luna

Superstition is very easily held in a world filled with magic. Especially when your species' default state is having none. Cross your fingers. Cross your heart. Hold your breath when passing the estates of the dead. Never step on cracks if you can help it. Be very careful with

Challenge #04980-M231: Something Snapped

they say you give away what was denied to you. It’s all in the name, really- Mercy, at your service. -- Weirdlet

[AN: In relation to Two Things Most Needed ]

Two hours had passed, and two Hellkin were into their cups. Of course, it was illegal for Hellkin to drink alcohol in Kahamkross. Thanks to some folks' interesting reactions to bread and pastry, it was not illegal for anyone to be drunk.

Both of them could honestly say that they'd only

Challenge #04979-M230: Unfamiliar Carer

Calm down, I won't hurt you. Yes I have horns, but I promise, I will help you get well, but you need to calm yourself with no stress. -- BKF

Tamasin didn't know if the battle was won or lost. They barely remembered the hit that took them down. One moment, they were fighting for the righteous cause, dimly aware that the line had broken. The next, they were staring at a roof made out of whatever happened to be closest to

Challenge #04977-M228: New Dawn's Day

To celebrate the holy day of the Goddess of birth and renewal, people everywhere are called upon to show their children the way forward and share the day with them, teaching them, connecting with them.

The priests’ intention was a day of family bonding and learning for the next generation.

What they got was Bring-Your-Child-To-Work-Day for a fantasy setting. -- Tergon

[AN: Fun fact about Alfarell, the god of rebirth and sometimes fertility is Aurorus - the Dawn Lord...]

Some call the

Challenge #04976-M227: Two Things Most Needed

Justice (the paladin) getting to know Mercy -- Weirdlet

[AN: Calls back to Made With Feeling ]

A wandering Paladin is not entirely commonplace, but they are a possibility. Usually before they adopt a pack of Adventurers for reasons that quickly become obvious, the more you know about Adventurers. The same holds true for a wandering Hellkin.

A wandering Hellkin Paladin asks and answers a lot of questions. One that remains unanswered to many is, Why would a god welcome a Hellkin as

Challenge #04971-M222: An Ash For Ashes

Due to a dryad's curse, an estate staff must tend the gardens with flamethrowers, lest the manor be overrun with foliage... -- Deathshead419

If there is a universal truth to society, it is that those with a lot of money and power simply have to show it off. Only the well off and the highest strata of the world could get away with building things just to look at. Artificial ruins of an imagined lost civilisation. False caves or hermit huts, replete

Challenge #04968-M219: Heroic Placement

The legend that wasn't -- Luna

The story is told of the hero who wanted to be a legendary one. Ze had read a great deal of legends and was immediately disappointed to find hirself lacking supernatural guardians. Let's call hir... Wannabe.

No Faerie Goodparents. No Eldritch entities interested in hir prosperity or demise. No devils wanted to deal with hir and no gods decided to warp hir fate.

No mysterious entities at crossroads, either. Which was the greatest disappointment of them

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A 420-post collection

Challenge #05004-M255: The Shape of Fear

Challenge #05003-M254: Worthy Becoming

Challenge #05001-M252: Circle of Kindness

Challenge #04998-M249: Heart of the Hearth

Challenge #04993-M244: All a Part of...

Challenge #04987-M238: I Wanna Be Just Like You

Challenge #04985-M236: De-Escalation Tactics

Challenge #04983-M234: Humble Little Sanctuary

Challenge #04982-M233: Redemption From Horror

Challenge #04980-M231: Something Snapped

Challenge #04979-M230: Unfamiliar Carer

Challenge #04977-M228: New Dawn's Day

Challenge #04976-M227: Two Things Most Needed

Challenge #04971-M222: An Ash For Ashes

Challenge #04968-M219: Heroic Placement