Wraithvine's Wanderings

Challenge #04483-L099: Inspired Desperation

The assassin tried for the apparently sleeping wizard with the cat in hir lap. The tiny gnome, a dragon in disguise, seeing the assassin's thin hand said "Ask for help instead, it'll be far less painful, and they'll help you escape your contract." -- Anon Guest

[AN: Whoop. Forgot about Bibrid. He doesn't have to be in every Wraithvine story you know]

With catlike tread, a cautious way Zeb felt. It was pitch black inside the inn when it was this close to midnight. So far, their darkvision was working to turn all the interior into shades of grey. The dagger had a whole vial of Nuruthara in its sheath. An ancient poison against Elvenkind, not used since the last set of Xenophobia Wars petered out.

They still made it, though, for jobs like these. When it was vitally necessary to make sure an Elf died.

Zeb oiled the hinges and the lock of the room they'd been told to enter. Carefully easing the lock into an open position. Equally carefully shifting the door open. Beyond, nestled on the bed, was a seated figure. Pointed ears. Pointed hat. Hands on hir knees and an orb of fluffy cat in the lap. The hat was all patches, and the face matched the picture the Master had let them memorise.

Support me on Patreon / Buy me a Ko-fi

Prompts remaining: 20 Submit a Prompt!
Ask a question

Challenge #04482-L098: One Good Turn

Only sheer willpower allowed this young human to drag this very badly injured elf and hir gnome friend to safe shelter. Despite their own injuries and exhaustion so profound they could barely even see straight anymore, they had only one thought. They could not let these two die. It was only after applying bandages they collapsed to the floor, and blacked out. -- Anon Guest

The wall of water had come out of nowhere. Lilly was fortunate to have grabbed a log

Challenge #04475-L091: Well Met Once More

Wraithvine was traveling and ended up in the village where ze had lost a magic contest that had been played for the fun of it. There ze found hir friend Oryn teaching students how basic, everyday, magic could be useful. For self care and self-defense, as well as around the home.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04235-k217-clever-uses -- Anon Guest

Time can make the world strange, as some of the wiser philosophers say. Wraithvine remembered this place, and like most places, it

Challenge #04430-L046: The Romance of History

Conventions, meet beings with the same interest,, spend time together ,have fun buy merchandise, -- She Who Knits

There was a time, long lost, when every building was a work of art. When clothing was made to make the body look good no matter what shape it was. There was a time when romance meant something. There was a time when everything looked so pretty in the paintings.

People love to try recapturing those romantic times.

...though without all the messy bits

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 #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 #04405-L021: Where You Learn the Most

My teacher is THE Ancient Elf. I thought the lessons would be exciting, and, sometimes they are, but they're pretty mundane, too. I'm working hard, want to make hir proud. But now they're having me help another beginner, too. Wow, didn't know teaching was this hard.

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

What nobody tells you about learning magic is how boring the practice can be. How humbling it is to know how difficult everything actually was. Including re-learning

Challenge #04397-L013: Let Me Help

Why are you so desperate to get rid of your magic?

"All I ever do is hurt those I love most."

Have you ever thought to find a teacher?

"Who'd teach a useless waste of life like me?"

Alright... lesson one... you're not a useless waste of life. -- Anon Guest

To make the world a better place was a bigger job than Wraithbind thought. The first thought to tackle was, Who am I making the world better for?

A world made

Challenge #04396-L012: Foundling Need

A family invites Wraithvine and friends to stay with them for the holiday and until the new year. The youngest among them, a human that was adopted, keeps calling Gikka, 'little sister' despite Gikka being older than them, and begs Gikka to please stay with them as family. -- Anon Guest

The Human that the family had adopted - stolen fair and square if one asked their Harukh mother - was considered "a bit simple" by many. Still, they could be relied

Challenge #04371-K353: Itinerant Educator

Magic done improperly by a person very new to it can go very wrong. Fortunately, a very kind wizard helps fix the mess and gently teach proper safety. -- Anon Guest

Magic is everywhere. Many find it as natural as breathing, but there are those who can learn to harness it via education and skill. Teachers find those with magic in their bones, usually before a great upset causes trouble for them. Or for anyone around them.

But for those who choose

Challenge #04360-K342: Flight of the Unwelcome

Moving day for such a huge household is SO much easier when you're friends with a wizard, and a dragon is willing to play with the littlest ones while everyone else is packing. -- The New Guy

[AN: following on from this tale ]

It's never easy to be a surprise parent. Bliss appointed himself as suprise parent to a dozen pitiful lives on one harsh stormy night. He managed to pick up five more in the process of seeing to the needs

Challenge #04356-K338: To Change...

Oh great wizard, my one dream was to have children. But this illness has robbed me of the chance. My home is large, as is my land, what do I do now? I just want a family. Please help me? -- Anon Guest

"There's nothing that can be done to reverse catching swellneck as an adult," sighed Wraithvine. "Short of praying for a miracle, there's only one option."

"Which is?" prompted the Lady Derisdranya.

"Either adopt one of your husband's by-blows... or

Challenge #04353-K335: Health, Wealth, and Happiness

I asked them to bless my newborn. Their reply was "I bless thee with great richness of spirit, abundance of life, and a beautiful heart."

That was the most wonderful blessing I could ever imagine. -- Anon Guest

Blessings can be curses, and vice versa. It's all about the heart and intention involved. And whether or not some malicious entities want to take things literally. Fortunately, there are those whose intent trumps malice in all its forms.

Well. At least one.

The

Challenge #04344-K326: Just a Pause

"You're going to die if you don't stop."

I don't care I have to keep going.

"You've done so much to help everyone already. See? The crisis is now very well in hand."

But it isn't enough yet.

"Please, you're hurting yourself, your feet in in blisters, you're growing so thin, forgive us.. but if we have to, we'll make you rest."

This prompt strongly reminds me of this story. A person driving themselves to pain and possibly to a death that

Menu

A 171-post collection

Challenge #04483-L099: Inspired Desperation

Challenge #04482-L098: One Good Turn

Challenge #04475-L091: Well Met Once More

Challenge #04430-L046: The Romance of History

Challenge #04425-L041: Guided to Gaining Good Spirits

Challenge #04418-L034: The Necessity of Wandering

Challenge #04417-L033: Subject of Attention

Challenge #04405-L021: Where You Learn the Most

Challenge #04397-L013: Let Me Help

Challenge #04396-L012: Foundling Need

Challenge #04371-K353: Itinerant Educator

Challenge #04360-K342: Flight of the Unwelcome

Challenge #04353-K335: Health, Wealth, and Happiness

Challenge #04344-K326: Just a Pause