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Challenge #04458-L074: Methuselah Engineering

A: this is… a hydro-electric plant?

B: yep this brick steel concrete is built to last a century.

A: how old is it?

B: I say 100 years give or take a few decades.

A: wha- so in case of a fire…

B: the only steps I’m taking are [flipping] big ones. -- Anon Guest

It's generally a safe idea to run when one sees a Human running. The only exception being on an approved jogging track. Such cautions definitely hold true in Human constructions. Yes, even the planned ones.

Especially the planned ones.

Natural forces last forever, or close enough to forever to not matter much. Machinery... does not. The best it can do is to last "a while", and Humanity's definitions of "a while" are... well... not great.

"Sure, the autodredging system needs a little kick-start once a decade, but that's small beans compared to everything else," said Engineer-guide Mal, making wide, sweeping gestures as he lead the others along the safest[1] walkways in the complex. "The whole place was made to last thousands of years and function during all that time with automated maintenance."

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Challenge #04457-L073: They Heal Slowly Too

Humans. Everyone thinks they're indestructible. But most don't see what I've seen. Like the ones here in this hospital recovering. Sure they saved their crews, but their bodies need a lot of repair, and rest. -- Anon Guest

The warning had gone out years ago, that Humans die slowly. When something causes their demise, it is either swift and messy - or clean, slow, and agonising. When the human is too hurt to complain about the pain, they're really in danger.

The

Challenge #04456-L072: Arms Race

They played with toy drones, buzzing them through the air. But beware kids with little RC toys, and you're trying to be intimidating. -- Anon Guest

Fun for the whole family! Cosmetic shells sold separately, battery packs and chargers not included. The drones were cheap, easy to use, and could carry weights up to five kilograms as long as they were also aerodynamic. For yet another separate purchase, one could acquire a cargo pod that attached to your unit.

The reason why

Challenge #04455-L071: A Cure For a Cad

Behold this beautiful little flower. So unassuming, so innocent, soft and purple. I wouldn't touch this foxglove if I were you, not unless you wear gloves. You may not like what the sap can do to skin that may have cuts, or otherwise be permeable. -- Anon Guest

Beautiful to look at, wonderful to behold. But if you touch... your end is foretold.

Consider a field of flowers. Pink, white, or purple. The soft petal bells bear little spots, and multitudes of

Challenge #04454-L070: Statistical Outliers

Their planet was tidally locked. They'd never heard of life forming on a world that spun despite the gravity of their sun. Then they learned of worlds like the Earth, and a whole new perspective opened for them. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I have seen SO much speculative biology based on eyeball worlds. They for sure wouldn't be Havenworlders though]

Nobody from a Deathworld believes they're on a Deathworld until they see the alternatives. This holds true for worlds that should definitely

Challenge #04453-L069: Celebrate Life

Festivals in the part of the city where the Unwelcome welcome all -- Anon Guest

There's places like this in every city. Usually, it's a tightly packed alley or two that has denizens rather than residents. You can feel every eye watching you warily, and there's a pervading miasma of suspicion and fear.

In a city as big and old as Deepwater, it's an entire district. Minor Perdition was the Hellkin Ghetto, and a place where the Unwelcome, Unwanted, and largely unwashed

Challenge #04452-L068: Way of the Dragon

This is a strange place where students are taught to fight. Not the ways of the shadow, but how to fight like the dragon-born. The teachers do not care that most of the students here are not, and were never dragons. Or that there are all races. All they care is that these youngsters, and some adults, are their students. And they will help others who are mistreated stand on their feet once more. -- The New Guy

Places like this are

Challenge #04451-L067: An Oft Repeated Mistake

They looked thin, wiry, but something in that hard expression said that the body's looks were deceiving. When the pirates tried to cause trouble for the colony, she only gave them ONE warning "I am a Marine". They learned the hard way what that meant. -- Fighting Fit

The pirate ship cruised in to the small colonial spaceport like they owned the place. For all anyone knew, they intended to own it shortly. They were arrogant in general and presumptive of their

Challenge #04450-L066: Enrichment Activities

The goods in your favourite Big Store get fewer and fewer, so those vital but rarely brought items disappear. -- She Who Knits

If variety was the spice of life, the local branch of MegaGloboCorpoMart was slowly turning into gruel. The variety of options and products, that which drew them all in, was getting spare.

It had taken Jaime months to notice, but after that, the limits were growing clear.

More complaints about clothing not available in someone's size. Counting the thousand

Challenge #04449-L065: City of Lights in the Dark

In this village, there were no such thing as "low born" and "high born". There were no such thing as "dark" and "light' except for "Were the candles lit so we can read?" In this place, dark elves, kobolds, and hellkin lived peacefully along with humans and other "light" races. Needless to say, adventuring parties learn quickly that discrimination, here, is absolutely forbidden. -- Lessons

[AN: The ability to see in the dark has its limits in Alfarell. People who have it

Challenge #04448-L064: Completely Unsupervised Chaos

You can't control chaos, don't even try. So what makes you think you can control the humans? -- Anon Guest

The Humans, as always, have a song that fits... even if it only fits slightly. There's a hold-up in the Bronx/ Brooklyn's broken out in fights/ There's a traffic jam in Harlem that's backed up to Jackson Heights/ There's a scout troop short a child/ Khrushchev's due in Idlewild... The meaning's been lost to the centuries, but it does contain the moral

Challenge #04447-L063: Almost a Nursery Tale

They thought they were nothing, a nobody, just another face in the crowd. Then they ran and grabbed the reigns of the horses of a runaway carriage before it could end up tipping into the ravine, and their whole life changed. -- Anon Guest

They call the town Cliffbridge, after its most noticeable feature, the D'varuv-made bridge across the ravine that divided the mountains in twain. Legend said that it was the result of a giant's sword, or some demon attempting to

Challenge #04446-L062: Responsibility's Burden

Things go wring, any sentient being knows this. So emergency stuff is kept close. From the emergency safety pin to the list of beings who will come to your aid and make it 'go away. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I kept the typos in this prompt on purpose. I think it fits the mood]

Every cogniscent being should have a Handy Stash. That is, a stash of things that come in handy. The omnitool, the package of adhesive medical strips, gaffa tape,

Challenge #04445-L061: Deathworlder Health and Maintenance

"Human, you said water boils at 100 degrees Fahrenheit?"

Yes.

"And your fever is almost 102."

Yes.

"Why are you not boiling in your on flesh?"

It feels like it, but our bodies are stronger than that, and it's what kills viruses the fastest. When it comes to kill or cure? Nothing beats our immune systems. -- Fighting Fit

Companion Kank boggled at the Ships' Human. "What did you do before advanced medical intervention?"

"Aw come on. I'm not in a lot

Challenge #04444-L060: Finding Justice

They called themselves a Cleric of Tyr, but their actions toward the dungeon and the Everdark adventurers that used it for training and loot-gathering, showed this person did not actually believe in what they espoused to be their god. But Tyr doesn't like it when people use their name without following the actual tenants. And it's time the Everdark adventurers had MORE than just one full sized dungeon to explore.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04426-l042-not-made-for-you#@internutter/re-bkf-srlmgn -- DaniandShali

[AN: Following

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A 4384-post collection

Challenge #04458-L074: Methuselah Engineering

Challenge #04457-L073: They Heal Slowly Too

Challenge #04456-L072: Arms Race

Challenge #04455-L071: A Cure For a Cad

Challenge #04454-L070: Statistical Outliers

Challenge #04453-L069: Celebrate Life

Challenge #04452-L068: Way of the Dragon

Challenge #04451-L067: An Oft Repeated Mistake

Challenge #04450-L066: Enrichment Activities

Challenge #04449-L065: City of Lights in the Dark

Challenge #04448-L064: Completely Unsupervised Chaos

Challenge #04447-L063: Almost a Nursery Tale

Challenge #04446-L062: Responsibility's Burden

Challenge #04445-L061: Deathworlder Health and Maintenance

Challenge #04444-L060: Finding Justice