Maybe somewhere, every story is true...

little comic inspired by this tweet

bonus (thank you @michelle-oops):

Challenge #04951-M202: The Only End

The saint encounters the creature-held body of the deceased prince, and thus begins the battle to stop it, and return the prince's remains to his family.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04943-m194-something-wicked -- BKF

Ganlen was able to pass easily through the crowds and city traffic as a hound,and thanked his gods that he had listened. His usual means of travel - a local bird - was being hunted by teens with slings. If he'd flown, he might have met impediment via a forced change of form.

Always trust a Cleric of Shai, saint or not.

Ganlen was still a dog as the thing inhabiting the corpse of Prince Crevith came upon Saint Zolesare blocking his way. The invading evil had ridden yet another horse to death, despite everyone's best efforts. Thus hidden, Ganlen summoned vines to pull at the invaded Prince's shoes. Anything more would both give him away, and also be ineffective.

Challenge #04949-M200: Battle in the Bedroom

A small child has an imaginary friend, a favourite stuffed toy, and a puppy. The three do not get along — the puppy has tried to eat the toy many times, the toy endlessly needles the imaginary friend for not being real, and the imaginary friend has learned a piercing whistle to annoy the puppy. But now they must put aside their differences and work together… to defeat the monster that lives in their child’s closet. -- Tergon

Everyone who knows about magic knows two things. First, those born with magic in their bones can have that magic... leak. Second, belief is a tremendously powerful thing. In the wrong circumstances, it can change the nature of reality.

Elven parents know this from the start. Parents of other natural-born magic folk... tend to be surprised. But not so as surprised as the children themselves.

Koyok was five, and had the kind of parents who said, "That's nice dear," and hushed him off to other places. Preferably where he didn't bother them with whatever he was talking about. It was no surprise that a child in those circumstances had imaginary friends.

Challenge #04948-M199: Last Days of a Saint

A dying elderly woman's final wish. She had spent her entire life helping others. And while that life had made her very happy, a tiny little piece of her wishes she could be spoiled a little and treated like a queen. Just for one day, though. -- BKF

A Saint for Wraithvine had reached the point where she was no help to anyone. A lifetime of charitable action had worn her near to a whisper, but she was happy.

"It is our turn to help you, Grandmother. What can we do?"

"In these, my last days, I wish for indulgence. Let me have the luxuries we treat the wealthy with. All the things that aren't worth a gnat's spit, but feel nice all the same."

"Mientras todo el mundo duerme,

Yo me trato de sanar..."🪽

commission for @aceofbasedesires, who requested an illustration of one of the scenes in @augentrust's fic The Bone That Has No Marrow! it was a huge pleasure and an honor to get to work on this, since i had already read that story and loved it to bits 🥰 please give it a read if you haven't yet!

Challenge #04947-M198: A Most Useful Weed

An alchemist has been brewing a potion for three months, and after taking meticulous care, it’s finally ready for the final step: the addition of a locally grown, fresh-picked herb.

Unfortunately, a combination of overzealous weeding by locals and imperfect weather means that the usual crop is not available.

The alchemist now has forty-eight hours to find the missing ingredient, and is becoming increasingly unhinged. -- Tergon

Months of steeping, fermenting, careful additions of each ingredient according to the instructions. The potion was almost done. The last, and easiest step - adding one dozen fresh leaves of ground ivy. A common weed that was everywhere in Lefthsyde.

Messalyn Chuffey had no concerns over that part. The rest of it had been a heart-stopping anxiety free-for-all, but ground ivy? The exemplary piece of piss.

Until the day came to get some. There had been a stand of it nine paces from Messalyn's front door, but someone had come by with their goats, and all that was left was stubble.

Challenge #04946-M197: Controlled Substance

There is nothing more stubborn than a determined wizard, except, perhaps, a determined CAT! And when the plants are fully mature, Lilbit manages to get into the catnip, with rather amusing results.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04696-l312-important-gifts -- BKF

Wraithvine knew hir stuff. The wards did little more than add an unpleasant static charge to Lilbit's fur, but they kept her off the plants. The cat mint plants that kept drawing her back to a very unpleasant experience.

In an effort to spare her discomfort, Wraithvine used an additional magical ward to alter the scent of the plants.

It worked, most of the time.