Instant Story

Challenge #04568-L184: Soft Justice

King Kormwind, tenth of that name, is invited to a quiet picnic by the local orphanage. True the food is meager, and the fare is plain, but the companionship is honest, the laughter is genuine, and the children are having fun in the beautiful, open, summer-warmed field. -- Anon Guest

There's nothing like the news of a royal visit to make the authorities do a lightning round of shaping things up. His Majesty, King Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, tenth of the name, had a sharp eye just like his father. In the right mood, it could cut beyond the bone.

And just like his father, he much preferred to be a 'my lord' than a 'your majesty'. Those closest to him called him Dex.

This particular orphanage on his coronation tour had done its best to look like they'd shaped up, and the administrator was a little to shiny for Dex's liking. Further, his office was a little too luxurious for someone working for the children's greater good. He sent a Luteman to look at the administrator's house and, just as Dex predicted, it was a mansion.

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Challenge #04567-L183: The One Most in Need

They were in the temple of helping hands, having stayed up all night, yet again, cleaning, putting together the next day's bread, and other such chores. A kindly magic user used a very gentle spell to force them to go to sleep. Then, to protect their health, placed a geas upon them, so they did not work themselves into illness again. -- Anon Guest

Selflessness is a flaw, and few people see it as such. People who indulge in selflessness are seen

Challenge #04566-L182: Bonded Bargain

A student is close to flunking out of a magic school. Desperate, the student turns to the accursed woods where the fairies dwell, hoping to strike a bargain. It's said that there are consequences to dealing with fae magic, but, it can't be worse than flunking out, right? -- Anon Guest

Rin would never make it as a Wizard. Even if he went after forbidden tomes and allowed a powerful spell to reside in his head, he couldn't even be a Wizzard[

Challenge #04565-L181: Age Appropriate Knowledge Source

They are a writer, and they thought their talent would simply consign them to a few pages, writing the histories of others, while their own was eventually forgotten. Their talent, however, was more than noticed. After all their writings gave lessons, and those lessons were saving many lives. -- Anon Guest

History is a complicated beast. It's difficult to believe that the first wonders of the world were not only rising from the ground, but had been standing for centuries at the

Challenge #04564-L180: To Stop the Smouldering

They say he who works hard will be wealthy. In the Alliance, your effort is actually rewarded. You're a hard worker, you deserve this apartment, and all that you have. Please do not deny yourself simply because of what you were so cruelly told in your past. -- Anon Guest

Where I grew up, you had to earn air, and pay back the debt you accrued when you were too young to work. You had to earn enough air to sleep, the

Challenge #04563-L179: History Returns

Zack woke up to the sound of the fat Gulgarren Korg dragging in an unknown spacecraft. “Zack, my people found this ancient hunk of junk floating near the outer colonies. After our scientists spot some human symbols I thought I could bring it to you to identify it.” The dish was smashed by space debris and the body eroded by solar winds. Zack place a hand on the only thing relatively intact; a golden record. “Man, this thing was supposed to find

Challenge #04562-L178: Under the Thumb of Justice

After a lifetime of flaunting and breaking the law, this rapscallion has reached the end of the line. But that doesn't mean there won't be one last fight... -- Anon Guest

Law should not be allowed to lay traps, strictly in my own, not so humble opinion. Citizens are definitely allowed to protect their treasures with locks and wards, that's just respect. Those who can afford greater security gain greater attention. That much risk is easily associated with fantastically great rewards.

I

Challenge #04561-L177: The Ultimate Scam

Mr Bad Example lives a life of plunder and scams, impersonating people, ripping off his workers, and changing identities whenever the heat rises too much. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I've been informed that there's a song called Mr Bad Example by Warren Zevon, so I can't use exactly that name for this piece.]

Alan Nemor had a gift. Primarily, he had the gift of being nondescript, but with a lot of charisma. He could change his hat and his coat and become

Challenge #04560-L176: Sanguine Apocalypse

Vampires have overrun the world, so humanity lives on at the poles where the sun always shines, conducting a treacherous twice yearly migration. -- Anon Guest

The world has gone to shit, but not in the way you might think. On the other hand,the climate change and overpopulation issues are solved. Also... not how you might think.

The Earth got overrun by Vampires.

Personally? I blame the kind of people who -er- wanted to "be friendly" with made-up monsters. There's a

Challenge #04559-L175: Highly Dangerous Knowledge

Somewhere amongst the countless rows of musty tomes and ancient manuscripts lies a cruel secret, waiting to be unearthed. -- Anon Guest

Librarians do more than guard knowledge. They also teach, but that's on the surface. They also preserve. The best libraries keep knowledge alive. Even the kinds of knowledge that should also be in a museum.

Clay and stone tablets can endure, but if you really want knowledge to last, scribe it on parchment with iron gall ink, and have it

Challenge #04558-L174: Era, Era, Tourist Fhtagn

A fun vacation ends with bringing home a little trinket, a squid headed god seated on a rune covered throne. Only, ever since, my dreams have grown ever stranger as a yearning fills me... -- Anon Guest

Don't touch that! Just... don't touch. Bad things happen to anyone else who touches that. Trust me, okay? You don't want the literally gory details.

Yes, I carry it around with me everywhere. No, I don't know if that's a good idea, but after what

Challenge #04557-L173: We Meet Again

Sometimes Wraithvine went to places Bibrid could not go. The dragon, in guise of a gnome, would wait with patience for his friend to return. A small being with a misshapen foot, now older and with a home of their own, was seen hobbling along the path with a cane. Wort smiled, seeing their friend, and sat down the pack of firewood they were carrying so the two could sit and chat a while.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04470-l086-magical-gifts -- Anon

Challenge #04556-L172: Stopgap Year

Reason allowed the young man to follow for a time. Even helped them get better clothing especially footwear. Used did not have to mean bad. They helped the youth find someone who could help them learn. And the two promised to remain friends even parting ways.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04476-l092-temporary-apprentice -- Anon Guest

Reason could teach more than ritual magic. They could teach basic survival skills. Archery, foraging, how to prepare and clean a kill, basic cookery. Making certain the

Challenge #04555-L171: For Our Next Item...

A charity was having a big event and the grand prize was to spend the day with Wraithvine and hir dragon friend and go with them to the theater. Wraithvine, for their part, agreed to this because all of the money, save for paying the vendors for the big event, and the crew for set up and tear down, was going to rebuild a local hospital and a local childrens' home. -- Anon Guest

Big city. Bright lights. A festive atmosphere and

Challenge #04554-L170: Seed of Life

They locate the Hartsoke plant, so insanely few and far between they are that it was nearly her end to find it. But the guardian had to be certain that this was need and not want. That this was her own choice in truth, not force, for her sake and her life.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04498-l114-harder-heartstrings -- Anon Guest

...through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered... They arrived at the Garded Grove on the cusp of Autumn. Halestaff had to carry

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Challenge #04568-L184: Soft Justice

Challenge #04567-L183: The One Most in Need

Challenge #04566-L182: Bonded Bargain

Challenge #04565-L181: Age Appropriate Knowledge Source

Challenge #04564-L180: To Stop the Smouldering

Challenge #04563-L179: History Returns

Challenge #04562-L178: Under the Thumb of Justice

Challenge #04561-L177: The Ultimate Scam

Challenge #04560-L176: Sanguine Apocalypse

Challenge #04559-L175: Highly Dangerous Knowledge

Challenge #04558-L174: Era, Era, Tourist Fhtagn

Challenge #04557-L173: We Meet Again

Challenge #04556-L172: Stopgap Year

Challenge #04555-L171: For Our Next Item...

Challenge #04554-L170: Seed of Life