#a devil's tale

It's finished. Complete.

Done!

Last words put into the book:

Three Chapters Remain!

Challenge #04944-M195: Letter Campaign

A malicious letter writing campaign forces Lord Kormwind to implement a restrictive policy in regards to mail coming into Whitekeep. This has unforeseen consequences. -- Deathshead419

[AN: I can't easily imagine what might lead to such things in Whitekeep. Origins outside of Whitekeep can work]

A king of conquest is generally expected to encounter the need for more conquest. In such a way, empires are wont to grow. King Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, ninth of his name, stopped short of controlling enough land to become an Emperor, and instead forged an alliance.

Which did nothing to stop people calling it The Infernal Empire.

And nothing to stop people outside of it from getting funny ideas about what went on within its borders. And, like most people with a bug in their bonnet, they sought to appeal to the highest authority. Unfortunately, the highest authority was the very fellow they were complaining about. And they all wrote the same letter.

Challenge #04926-M177: Damned Foolish Stunt

Tilting at windmills -- Deathshead419

Kosh would have to apologise to Artie for insisting this mobile chair be disposable. Even though the autonomous automaton's face was immobile, it nevertheless managed o convey heatbreak and disappointment when he told it, "The chair won't last long anyway. Just make sure it will last long enough."

He'd have a lot of apologies to make if he survived this.

First and most importantly, to his beloved Cordelia, for making her wait nine months for his return to the mortal plane. Then to his newborn twin sons, still lacking a full name each, for forcing them to have Battleborn and Battleblood somewhere in their full chain of names. Only then would he apologise to his doctors for going out on the battlefield for a leader-to-leader challenge - against a Giant - with a cursed arrowhead embedded in his thigh.

Challenge #04925-M176: In Good Company

It's dangerous to go alone -- Spare AMitA Prompt

Pipi raised the sacred weapon and hollered the sacred vow, "I found a stick onna ground, an' now I'm gonna use it! All the power that I found, I don't wanna abuse it!" Their voice echoed in the streets and no other kids called challenge. Nobody else called dibs. The obvious next thing to do was become a Hero.

Which meant that Pipi needed to become a protector and helper to the poor, the weak, and the downtrodden.

It took them forever to find someone to protect and help. A whole half an hour! And even then it was two out of three by technicality. Old man Kosh was technically poor because his pet had died a couple of weeks ago. And he was technically downtrodden because some people hated Hellkin for no good reason. And he was an old man. That wasn't part of the Heroic thing, but it was generally a good idea to be kind and helpful to old people.

Challenge #04924-M175: Trust to Not Fall

Leap of Faith -- Spare AMitA Prompt

For such a small stone, the Icon of Edass weighed heavily inside a fold of Kosh's gi. As he raced across the rooftops of Arbordeep, he had to wonder how much of the stretched truth he told to Xiolein was something he covertly believed.

It was so easy to believe the artifact was cursed. Those who sought it had killed so many of those who held it. As well as unnumbered innocent bystanders who had the bad luck of being too close to those who held it.

Now he held it.

Challenge #04922-M173: Ill-met Fate

A beast in human form -- Spare AMitA Prompt

Emmalaina Velvet Diamante Blazestone arrived in Whitekeep's capital by canal. The streets were too narrow for a coach, and the goat-carts were far too terrifying for her to try. According to her itinerary, she would have a day of rest before meeting her fiancee, the Viscount and heir to the Earldom, Purity Buckler Integrity Whitekeep, first of his name.

She entered the castle through the large, main door to the central courtroom. Where the reigning Earl Loyalty Temperance Halberd Whitekeep, fifth of the name, was waiting for her official welcome.

The Earl was wearing black, and a dour expression. Which may be of little concern. Earl Loyalty Whitekeep had worn black since his wife had died. He even wore the Jet Crown, and kept his wife's chair shrouded in black. He stood as the herald announced Emmalaina to the court, and all in attendance also stood.