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Queen Scarlet Wish
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Once there was a young Kobold, known as Little Fire. He was small, even for a kobold, and many of the other kobolds of his tribe bullied him for his weakness. This gave rise in him a fire, a need to never back down or relent. When faced with many bullies he'd never relent, attacking viciously even when outnumbered, and learned to use his small stature and speed to his advantage. This solved his bullying problem, he suffered many a beating, but never let his bullies get away without a bite, gash, or some other stinging wound.
But it left him alone. He gained a reputation amongst the young kobolds as crazy, as a half mad, rabid creature. He was allright with that, he didn't need them, and he lived his life, a little ball of fire, fully throwing himself into anything he tried, regardless of failure or success.
As he grew to adulthood he became enamoured with a kobold he'd grown up alongside, whom was nicknamed smooth scale. She was tall and lithe, with beautiful scales. She'd been nice to Little Fire, even when he was a tiny runt, but she was a beautiful kobold and had the attention of all the males of their tribe. As they grew she had no time for him.
As is tradition, most kobold tribes require their youths to complete a test of skill or cunning before being accepted as an adult. Little Fire was reaching that age and decided to impress Smooth Scale by completing a hunt, and bringing back a trophy that would make their eldest hunters jealous. He decided to hunt from a pack of nearby cave boar. Cave boar are vicious animals, used to a harsh life underground. They are as large as kobold, and to one such as Little Fire, much, much larger.
Little Fire was undaunted, never one to shy from a doomed challenge he carved a spear, made of a flint rock, leather straps, and a stout haft of wood. It was far from a large weapon, but taller than him and thus perfect for his size. He set out to hunt the boar.
He tracked the pack to a pool a few hours from his home. There was a litter of runts, a few adults, and one large vicious one with a broken tusk. Lacking better judgement Little Fire singled out the alpha and stalking up, leaped upon it's back. It took off running, but was brought to an immediate halt by Little Fire's spear piercing it's skull. Little Fire tumbled from the creature as it fell, unfortunately injuring his leg on it's good horn.
But he'd won his prize, none could help but be impressed by the creature he'd fallen. It was clear he was not the first to hunt it from it's scars. He had the problem of his injured leg, however, and needed to move his prize back to his home, several hours trek away.
Never giving up, he crafted a small litter and slowly dragged the boar back to his home, laboriously, slowly, and with no small measure of pain. It took him a day and a night to return, but make it back he did, tired, thirsty and hungry, and ready to bask in the glory of his achievements.
But alas, fate is was not on his side, and he returned to find his village ransacked by a local tribe of gnolls, his people enslaved. He watched from hiding as they were lead away, their meager possessions stolen.
Little Fire knew he had no way of fighting them, but being who he was he had to try. He followed them to their home and watched as the gnolls led his people to a small jail, and then proceeded to feast on the spoils of their raid. He waited while they celebrated their victory, growing angrier and angrier.
Eventually most of them had passed out, full of meat and fish and wine. He took his chance and snuck to the jail, his small stature allowing him to squeeze through the barred gate. He slew the only guard, who was asleep, with a swift stab to the throat.
He freed his people, unlocking their cells, until he came across Smooth Scale. He stopped his work and embraced her, proclaiming in an instant his love for her, to which she only responded with stunned silence, confused at his presence, his words, and the entire situation she was in. This reunion was short lived, the body of their jailor was found, and a shout of alarm went out.
Little Fire left the cell to find a gnoll, armed, angry, and ready to kill any he saw. Injured though he was, Little Fire was undaunted, but he was also outmatched. The guard knocked his spear away and was ready to strike a killing blow, when gnarl horn, one of Little Fire's hated bullies, stabbed the gnoll in the back with the dead guards dagger. His former antagonists rallied beside him, armed themselves, and strode out to meet the band of gnolls.
It was a vicious battle, the gnolls were slow and drunk, but are vicious creatures and not to be trifled with. Little Fire killed three himself, and their bravery allowed the rest of the tribe to escape, but outnumbered as they were, eventually the brave kobolds fell, one by one, until it was only Little Fire and Gnarled Horn left.
They escaped from the gnoll village, but Little Fire was greviously wounded during the battle, far more than a kobold of his stature should have been able to stand. Little Fire collapsed as they hiked home, unable to walk any further. He spent his last moments telling Gnarled Horn of his life, his hunt, his love, and his last words were of Smooth Scale. Gnarled Horn carried his body and spear back to the tribe, and they burned his body in a pyre, his spear being placed in the center of the village to honor his sacrifice.
Smooth Scale never took a mate, as if she were waiting for Little Fire to return to her. Gnarled Horn became leader of the tribes warriors, and was a fierce hunter and combatant, always taking strength from the example of Little Fire's indomitable spirit. Once a year Gnarled horn and Smooth Scale still go to the center of the village, and light a little fire near the spear, and bow their heads and weep for their lost friend and savior.
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