Alfarell

Challenge #04916-M167: Offered Change

The Curse wasn't broken yet, but as he aided in navigation, the one that Cursed him had watched. Taking pity, while he slept, his body grew larger, more robust, the pain of the changes lasted mere moments. He was no longer the cursed Swan prince, he became Vigdis's War Eagle. Though he would need to learn to actually fight properly to continue to aid her.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04894-m145-making-the-effort -- Anon Guest

[AN: Well this is going to be tricky, considering tomorrow's prompt. Did you know that swans are the birds most associated with Valkyries? They can fuck your entire shit up if you cross them. See: Don't Mess With the Swans by Professor Bird]

There was one disadvantage with being a swan in the frozen north. Swans didn't often fly there. Being a dazzlingly white bird on snowy ground was excellent camouflage, true, but on the wing? Not so much when the skys were near permanently grey or the forest was largely a dull, dark green.

The good news, such as it was, was that even a grounded swan could break an attacker's bones.

The bad news was that this was the fifth time some asshole had shot him out of the air. At least Vigdis knew some powerful healing potions and ritual magic. Prince Odilio was very grateful for all of it. Even when the healing potion contained extracts from some very interesting mushrooms.

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Challenge #04915-M166: As You Wish

A traveler comes upon an incredible find, a Djinn’s bottle! The traveler eagerly rubs the enchanted vessel, only to discover that the bottle is empty. Good news, the vessel is accepting new entrants with all the powers that implies. Bad news, the vessel is in the middle of nowhere and not very large on the inside… -- Deathshead419

Something had turned a once-great city into ruins, but the drifting sands and bones of the buildings gave no clues. The plants that

Challenge #04913-M164: Life Like a Nursery Tale

A powerful spirit, yet fairly young, is similar to Mistress Dark in ability. Instead of challenging her, however, it asks to be educated instead. -- Anon Guest

Everyone knows Greatfather Langeven stops by every house with a child to deliver gifts on Midwinterfeast Eve. A lot of people had been learning that Kinderfreund and Helpmeet come for the Unwelcome children to gift them what they truly need.

Sometimes, even though they are childhood gods, they come too late.

The little match girl's

Challenge #04911-M162: Faekindred Delivery System

For six weeks melodious harp music wafts into a villager’s bedroom every night. In the seventh, the villager enters the woods, finding a satyr playing beside a brook, who gives a most unusual reason for the song… -- Deathshead419

It was beautiful music, Grisel couldn't deny it. Even as they lay awake when they should be sleeping because the music was keeping them from their dreams. And it was Summer, so shutting the window to block the sound was not an

Challenge #04910-M161: Follow Instructions

Deep in the heart of windswept plains is a temple with a great hoard of gold. All who enter may take a single coin from the supposed Goddess’s shrine. A woeful fate is said to befall any who take more than their fair share. What is the woeful fate? As the supposed Goddess statue is actually Eris, the answer may surprise everyone involved. -- Deathshead419

There are gods you pray to for their mercy. There are those you do not speak

Challenge #04900-M151: Big Truffle in Little River

Two villages, once best friends, were viciously warring. A seer came to town prophesizing doom as both villages were to "lose their names". The battles stopped. They lived in peace to fortify against the doom. The seer lied, and did not lie, the war stopped, they didn't die. -- Anon Guest

Swindon and Wallowdale had been battling over a pig. The exact circumstances differed depending on who you asked, but the broad strokes were thus: It was the other side who stole

Challenge #04898-M149: What Rude Beast

It has been six summers since Prince Crevith fell into a stream. Though he lived, the prince could not be awakened no matter the medicine or magic tried. Until one storm-wracked night he awakens. His family is jubilant, until he acts belligerent in ways the prince never was, desperate to go east. -- Deathshead419

The Prince had been twelve when a terrible accident resulted in his almost being lost to the frigid, rushing waters. He was lucky to be pulled out alive.

Challenge #04897-M148: Epic Rap Battle For History

A trio of warrior lords quibble over who is to inherit a large swath of land, for the will was lost in the fire which killed the former ruler. To avoid a war, the three visit seeress, who leads them to a shine of Wothynn, with the foretelling that the one who is the best Poet shall be judged the rightful heir to the land -- Deathshead419

Things were done differently in the Northlands. Politics was often settled with the sword, when

Challenge #04896-M147: Proposal of a Portrait

Guild painter Petreau has pined for the hand of his master’s daughter for the last six years. After all this time, a masterpiece centered on her is finished. The girl even likes it. But how will he finagle his cantankerous mentor into letting him wed the girl he loves? -- Deathshead419

It was a portrait of adoration. The face on the canvas almost glowed with joy. Her hair was resplendant, and her clothes were lovingly rendered to look their best. Most

Challenge #04895-M146: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

It has been three summers since the new head of a scribal house in Arbordeep settled into the hereditary role, and all is not well. Many of the students have wandered off, no new recruits to the printing operation have arrived, and even worse, rumors are flitting about of a conspiracy amongst the remaining senior scribes. Something must be done… but what? -- Deathshead419

The Empire was falling. Barbarian invaders, polities breaking off and causing trouble with the Empire that once sheltered

Challenge #04894-M145: Making the Effort

After grueling practice with Trudy and Wraithvine, the Swan Prince Odilio Magustine Jestarion Francas is… more acceptable than previously. However, he still must find love and Gods above and below know neither of them are on offer. It seems an ill fit at first, but, perhaps a hot headed warrior maiden from the north in need of a flying scout can find something in him to like and it may do him some good to find a woman who can argue right

Challenge #04893-M144: Something's in the Water

The laundresses of three neighboring noble estates have long come the same bend in the river to clean the fabrics of their masters and chat about the day’s trivialities. All seemed right and normal for years, until one day the laundry emerged from the waters covered in strange, flowing symbols too neat to be stains, too precise to be meaningless. -- Deathshead419

Three Baronets held neighbouring lands, and it was a lucky thing that they were friends. The shared hunting grounds

Challenge #04892-M143: False Fate

Some hold that the fates of all men are carved into stone. What happens when a miner breaks into a cave and discovers tablets seeming to record all events of the miner’s life up until that point and then details what is to come thereafter? -- Deathshead419

Some legends say that the Great Silver Dragon curled up and became the moon. Some say that she became the very world upon which all other life depends. Some legends say that all the

Challenge #04891-M142: Live to Serve

Vichelle had known little in life aside from washing the laundry of her noble master’s family. She kept her head down, her ears plugged, and tried to act like a shadow in the night. But when she finds blood on the linens one time too many, a vision at the river tells her that she must do more… -- Deathshead419

Servants should never be seen or heard. They're meant to serve without thanks, without notice. Without merit. Silent as the walls,

Challenge #04886-M137: Go Back to the Fire

A devotee of Khasis and Gibil, the fire and the forge, arrives to give libations to the Divines. Only, the devotee becomes confused, as one God is singular non-binary and the other is a hypostasis of multiple divine aspects…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypostasis(philosophyand_religion)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYOUFGfK4bU -- Deathshead419

Offerings to gods can vary in substance, but agree on theme. Various deities all over Alfarell are offered various liquids to drink. Few take blood

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A 413-post collection

Challenge #04916-M167: Offered Change

Challenge #04915-M166: As You Wish

Challenge #04913-M164: Life Like a Nursery Tale

Challenge #04911-M162: Faekindred Delivery System

Challenge #04910-M161: Follow Instructions

Challenge #04900-M151: Big Truffle in Little River

Challenge #04898-M149: What Rude Beast

Challenge #04897-M148: Epic Rap Battle For History

Challenge #04896-M147: Proposal of a Portrait

Challenge #04895-M146: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Challenge #04894-M145: Making the Effort

Challenge #04893-M144: Something's in the Water

Challenge #04892-M143: False Fate

Challenge #04891-M142: Live to Serve

Challenge #04886-M137: Go Back to the Fire