Instant Story

Challenge #04426-L042: Not Made For You

There's only one rule in this dungeon, stay out of the places with bright light. That is an odd thing, for usually the light brings clarity. But here? It's used to fool the unwary unto danger. -- Anon Guest

One truth is known to those who build and keep dungeons: Adventurers like light. They're surface folk, they can't help it. For them, light is safety, security, and sanctuary. So there was a time that those who wished to discourage Adventurers put deadly traps in welcoming light.

This is the only one that survives.

Adventurers don't like the deceptive dungeons, to the point where most of them were utterly destroyed. And so were the people who built them. The only reason this particular dungeon remains is simple: Everdark denizens can become Adventurers too.

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Challenge #04425-L041: Guided to Gaining Good Spirits

When is a cat not an ordinary cat? And when is a cat a link to a life-saving miracle worker? When that cat is named Lilbit, is immortal, and owned by an immortal elf living in the elf's cottage. -- Anon Guest

[AN: Wraithvine wanders. The cottage is a portable magician's tower in a dimensional pocket that's more a place to stay when no other venues are available.]

The cat was gloriously fluffy, and very confident. Her tail was high as she

Challenge #04424-L040: Extremes of Limits

They did not believe humans could survive such extremes of temperatures when no other species could. The humans, for their part, considered it no worse than doing a polar bear plunge, and then jumping into a hot tub afterward. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I've heard of people rolling around in the snow after a sauna, not the other one. I'm sure it's "bracing"]

Seeing things like this, it's easy to believe that they're Deathworlders. The survivors of the volcanic cataclysm were sheltering

Challenge #04423-L039: Swords and Ploughshares

The aliens didn't listen. They were SO sure that they could overrun the human colony and wipe them out. They were warned by others that you did NOT want to piss off the humans. Their civilization survived the aftermath, but they most certainly learned their lesson the hard way. -- Anon Guest

It was a beautiful world. Predictable weather, mild seasons, lots of arable land and the gentlest water cycle one could get. It was almost perfect. Just one tiny flaw.

It

Challenge #04422-L038: Not That Harmless

Not all havenworlds are harmless. Some, for the natives, it's paradise. But for those not native to it? A deathtrap. -- Anon Guest

The mistake everyone makes is believing that Havenworlders are weak because they were basically coddled for their entire evolution. What they miss is that the Havenworlder-Deathworlder scales are calibrated according to how much or how little the planetary system is amenable to the lives of its natives.

Flora, fauna, mycotta, weather, geology, microbiota, and other orbiting bodies within the

Challenge #04421-L037: But Why Though?

They enter the galactic universities the first time. And the Alliance learns how brilliant, and how unorthodox, humans can be. -- Anon Guest

The concept of higher education is older than many might think. Basic learning covers the essentials everyone needs to know. Life skills, manners, standards of cleanliness and dress. As a civilisation gets more complicated, the basics expand.

So to do the levels of education.

Some use this to hold themselves above others. Hence the term "higher education'. A polity

Challenge #04420-L036: Sore-ting Systems

This library is enchanted. It will always provide you with the knowledge you need. However, it may not be the knowledge you want. You have been warned. -- Fighting Fit

If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, it therefore follows that knowledge must be restricted. Such is the logic of dictators everywhere. Despite this, people still need knowledge, like they need sustenance, or medicine. Even the knowledge of which medicines work is needed. Even the dictators step back from restricting all knowledge.

Challenge #04419-L035: Easy Mistakes to Make

They didn't listen, and now they were covered in red welts and bumps. The human warned them that there were few, even among humans, who didn't react when harvesting this plant. And now they itched all over. They called them cattails, but they didn't realize those edible things were also irritants!

((Note, cattail plants contain an irritant on that lovely pod of theirs. While highly edible, it's advised to wear gloves when harvesting them.)) -- Anon Guest

[AN: Cattails are fascinating]

"They

Challenge #04418-L034: The Necessity of Wandering

The family asks Wraithvine to be the god-parental to the quadruplets, and they visit from time to time to help teach magic, and just to enjoy the company of family.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04340-k322-a-pound-of-protection -- Anon Guest

[AN: Had to make a correction in the prompt over a minor detail]

"A goodparent," Wraithvine repeated. "I am a wandering thorn in various evils' sides. We've done what we can to protect them while they're vulnerable, but... there's reasons why I wander.

Challenge #04417-L033: Subject of Attention

It's been nearly six months since they found hir student. When she realized just how badly she'd been mangling things, she almost got upset, until Wraithvine sat her down to explain that, that had been a GOOD thing, fate had been kind. Now, the young woman was showing real progress, but needed to learn moderation.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04371-k353-itinerant-educator -- Anon Guest

[AN: I can plausibly fit this between the first story and this one: https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/

Challenge #04416-L032: Undeserving Expectations

The massive house had a large group of Brauniin living within it. Those who stayed there, either as owners or guests, were always required to read the plaques that was by all entrances. "Do not act with greed or entitlement here. Be polite, and always thank the unseen for all that has been done for you. To do otherwise, is to invite misfortune." -- Anon Guest

Every place tells a story, if you know how to listen. It may be in the

Challenge #04415-L031: Maybe Overreacting

The galactics aboard the station were freaking out. The human was coughing, a lot, and wore a mask to cover their face. When asked what was wrong, they simply said "It's just a cold. I'm wearing this for your protection." Unfortunately, the medics were... overreacting a bit. -- Fighting Fit

It was a small station in the middle of nowhere, relatively speaking. There was only one Human on board as part of the regular staff. Most of life on the station was

Challenge #04414-L030: Suddenly Learning to Teach

The other hatchling kobolds picked up their native tongue quickly. But this one, smaller than the others, struggled with the language. They had no ancestral memories of previous lives. The humans in the village that were close, dear, friends to this warren, and the kobolds elder, realized this precious life was truly new to this world, in more than one sense. -- Lessons

Some species of Alfarell are born with their language. Well, most of their language. Hellkin know how to talk

Challenge #04413-L029: We'll Meet Again

The news of Gikka's passing due to old age filters its way to Wraithvine. The immortal dragon healer, in hir guise as a gnome, placed a gentle hand on Wraithvine's. "Never gone as long as she is remembered, and I'm not leaving your side any time soon, my friend. For I live as long as you." -- Anon Guest

Wraithvine hated goodbyes. Ze had had far too many of them in hir time if service. Outliving enemies and allies alike could easily

Challenge #04412-L028: Enlightened Self-Preservation

Karma comes in strange ways, for a false healer it was that now, sometimes it worked -- Knitnan

A Traveling Apothecary was an amazing scam. Roll into town with a showy wagon and an amusing sideshow. Sell a few interesting bottles of simple solutions and coloured water. Then get out before the rubes notice that it's all smoke and mirrors. And, of course, steer clear of any place that has a disease running through it. Claim that you're out of the essential

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Challenge #04426-L042: Not Made For You

Challenge #04425-L041: Guided to Gaining Good Spirits

Challenge #04424-L040: Extremes of Limits

Challenge #04423-L039: Swords and Ploughshares

Challenge #04422-L038: Not That Harmless

Challenge #04421-L037: But Why Though?

Challenge #04420-L036: Sore-ting Systems

Challenge #04419-L035: Easy Mistakes to Make

Challenge #04418-L034: The Necessity of Wandering

Challenge #04417-L033: Subject of Attention

Challenge #04416-L032: Undeserving Expectations

Challenge #04415-L031: Maybe Overreacting

Challenge #04414-L030: Suddenly Learning to Teach

Challenge #04413-L029: We'll Meet Again

Challenge #04412-L028: Enlightened Self-Preservation