Alfarell

Challenge #04290-K272: There's a Moral Somewhere

The sacrificial one was shoved into the chamber, the door behind them sealed. The gods demanded this, if they disobeyed, the city would be destroyed. The youngster, shakingly, put their hand on the door. "Shhhh, what the elders don't know won't hurt the rest of us. Let's go." -- Anon Guest

For centuries, it had maintained peace. In the town, there was a temple dedicated to the Established Order. The temple, partially carved into a mountain, had a portal that people only went through once. It was the door for the unworthy. The unwanted. The unwelcome.

Fail in any way to be a valuable member of society, and you would be forced through that door, never to return.

It didn't need to be a yearly sacrifice. They found a way to put someone through every week. One by one, they excised the elderly, the young miscreants, the mentally slow, the disabled and the homeless. There were many occasions in which they removed those who were merely ugly or didn't quite fit their self-established mould.

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Challenge #04286-K268: For the Safety of Others

Those that discriminate against the unwanted races in this nation take a page from the lands of Whitekeep. They are not killed, instead sent to a large school where they are forced to learn about whom it is they hate. And the worst part is? The bracelets they must wear. Until they "graduate", they are no longer capable of telling any lies, especially, not to themselves. Kids are easy to teach lessons of kindness, respect, and diversity, it's the older teens and

Challenge #04283-K265: A Start, An End

The burrow of kobolds found a nest of dragon eggs. The nest was still very warm, but the parent was not returning, as a cruel person that other humans were calling a "hero" had killed them. They took in these eggs to care for them, to raise them, those false "heroes" would not get their hands on these children, ever. Not if the borrow had anything to say of it! -- Anon Guest

Heroism is relative. For every victorious vanquisher of an

Challenge #04281-K263: Little Mama Bear

You're bigger than me, you've trained longer than me, but, I assure you, if you try this, you won't win. You have your strength and military training. I've lived in the streets. I'm younger than you, but you touch these two teens behind me again, and I will snap you in half. -- Anon Guest

[AN: This almost turned into a Kosh story. Gotta remember those qualifiers you put in there, Nonny!]

They call me Maw, and they don't do that because

Challenge #04276-K258: The Pothi Carie

For their kindness, and because more people were seeking their aid, the ones that lived in that small village came together. And, in a show of solidarity, built a clinic that contained quarters for the hellkin and the kobold, and several rooms for patients.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04191-k173-one-good-turn -- Anon Guest

It had to happen sooner or later. There was a new building in the village. It had a garden and a greenhouse for the herbs, and a huge workshop

Challenge #04275-K257: A Little Death

There is a terrible condition some humans are born with. Slowly, over time, they lose the ability to sleep. And when their body does pass out, they do not remain that way long, and there are no dreams. A human that remains awake for more than 11 days straight, almost always dies. Desperately they seek someone, anyone, for help. Magic, or medicine, they didn't care. They didn't have long left to live. -- Anon Guest

[AN: My research shows that people don't

Challenge #04272-K254: Unreachable Goal

Why do you keep walking? You had every chance to take the plunge. You chose the path of self-annihilation.

“I’m sorry… I am no longer worthy to join you… ever since I met them, I can’t stop, I’ve still yet to finish writing their ending.” -- Anon Guest

There is such a thing as chasing a dream far too hard. Trying one's life away for a single goal despite every failure and roadblock set in one's way. Despite the

Challenge #04271-K253: You're With Us

The kobolds' burrows had collapsed in the trembler. They were lucky the entire warren had survived without a single one, nor any egg lost. The nearby adventurers with shovels and magic, helped rebuild the tunnels, and proof them against ever collapsing again no matter how hard the earth shook. -- Anon Guest

Propshore was a mining town, and Kobolds were treasured there. They had a sense for three-dimensional space that few could equal. They could tell the vulnerabilities in stone with a

Challenge #04264-K246: Thanks Enough

Despite your aversions, you did this... for me?

"All life is precious, but, I knew you could not survive on plants."

And for my children.

"You were ill, I'm just glad my poor skills were enough."

Thank you. You're the first human I've ever met that has ever been this kind.

"You're welcome, my friend."

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04162-k144-help-to-all-in-need -- Lessons

Many omnivores who choose a herbivorous diet seem to believe that everything can subsist on a herbivorous diet. Those

Challenge #04258-K240: Dawn of a New Day

They saw the cottage just... appear. It was rough looking, but it had a pleasant garden, and there was smoke coming from the chimney. The weather, horrific, and they were starving, tired, and cold. They went inside, napped by the fire, and surprised to be awakened by a soft voice asking them what had happened and who they were? -- Anon Guest

Cold and wet is bad in the wilderness, especially when one is also starving. It takes extra energy to get

Challenge #04255-K237: Unpaid Respect

Horns looking of crystal, jewel-bright green eyes, soft pastel blue skin, the hellkin lived within a cottage surrounded by a beautiful gardens of flowers, food, and herbs. A sign over the walkway read "Those in need, please be welcomed."

Many the wealthy tried to get this living gemstone to live with them. Many have learned, sometimes the hard way, that this beauty also had the determination of a dragon, and the gifts of a wizard. -- Anon Guest

People hear the word

Challenge #04249-K231: Never Work Alone

I once thought that time was of no concern to me. Distance yourself from others and stay focused on your work. A few years or a few hundred… it’s all the same. But after all this, I’ve realized the perhaps this way of thinking is fundamentally flawed. The passing of time have its own consequences. The answer that I’ve been searching for amongst all those lives…

Perhaps it’s life itself. -- Anon Guest

Time, wise philosophers say, can

Challenge #04246-K228: Critical Perception Failure

They'd come to inspect the dragons forge. Everyone said the dragon was working there of their own will. Everyone said the main smiths were dragons. They didn't believe it. Even when the dragons showed them, they refused to believe it. Why else would they allow HUMANS to work here too? Or make things for others besides other dragons?

There's always ONE of those beings to show up from time to time. That needs a solid kick in the pants before they are

Challenge #04243-K225: Why? Why Not!

The cloak they wear is made of carefully tanned thick buffalo hide. Upon it, overlapping, are dragon scales. Oddly enough, each scale has a name etched into it. They buy the scales from the dragons, and dragon kin, fairly, one scale per individual, have it signed using a special metal quill, and use these for the cloak.

Why? Because they love all dragons and dragon-kind. And their life's mission is to make a special shrine where the names of them may forever

Challenge #04242-K224: Hero of Justice

A sheathed, dusty, blade that was hidden in a thief's lair is stolen by a young hellkin seeking a way to defend themselves.

The blade finds they are able to speak to their new wielder, and helps them learn how to be a true hero. Not a false one wrapped in gold, but a quiet one wrapped in hope.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04155-k137-a-double-edged-blade -- Anon Guest

Justice is an odd thing, beyond an eye for an eye. For example, harming

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A 180-post collection

Challenge #04290-K272: There's a Moral Somewhere

Challenge #04286-K268: For the Safety of Others

Challenge #04283-K265: A Start, An End

Challenge #04281-K263: Little Mama Bear

Challenge #04276-K258: The Pothi Carie

Challenge #04275-K257: A Little Death

Challenge #04272-K254: Unreachable Goal

Challenge #04271-K253: You're With Us

Challenge #04264-K246: Thanks Enough

Challenge #04258-K240: Dawn of a New Day

Challenge #04255-K237: Unpaid Respect

Challenge #04249-K231: Never Work Alone

Challenge #04246-K228: Critical Perception Failure

Challenge #04243-K225: Why? Why Not!

Challenge #04242-K224: Hero of Justice