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Daniel Rogers

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

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Not Every Stumper Can be Cute

Weekly Contest #257

"By Xer-Bane! What are they doing?!" I shouted. Selwyn soldiers were chasing a poor, helpless stumper through the woods. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why our allies would want to harm one of our loveable magic tree stumps. It infuriated me. They were shooting arrows, but the stumper dodged most of them by using trees as shields. I saw a few stuck in him, but they didn't slow him down. From my vantage point, I could see a small gorge hidden by a hill. If I could get there fast enough, perhaps I could hide the stumper in that gorg...

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Xer-Bane Didn't Bless Dwarfs with Long Legs

Weekly Contest #256

I was pacing myself, knowing that a cross-country race isn't won by speed but by stamina. It's a good thing, too, since Xer-Bane didn't bless dwarfs with long legs. Suddenly, an elf came from behind and shoulder-checked me. Before regaining my balance, I wobbled and came very close to hitting a tree. "Do that again, and I'll knock that smirk off your face!" I said between breaths. "Gotta catch me first, Phlegm-it!" The windbag yelled. "Flimlet! You pompous, girly-haired nimrod!" I remember seeing this guy before the race, but I have no idea ...

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Well, You See, We Sorta Like Outside

Weekly Contest #255

Oakaford, the captain of the Stumper Guard, stood in front of Lady Nimmo's desk with a confused look, hoping Lady Nimmo would change her mind. "Do we have to?" "Don't you want a home? I mean, everyone wants a home," she could hardly believe what she was hearing. She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. It pained Oakaford to see Lady Nimmo frustrated, "Well, you see, we sorta like outside." He nervously tapped his twig fingers on his sides. "But homes are a place of peace and safety. Protection against the elements." She paused on t...

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The Aroma of Really Good Cooking

Weekly Contest #254

“So, have you heard?” Splinter asked in hushed tones. The magical stump with a stylish carved beard and a small crack in the middle of his forehead was too gleeful. The kind of glee that only comes from gossip or a joke involving a pulled finger. “I hear lots of things,” Oakaford answered. The captain of the Stumper Guard thought it was a ridiculously easy question, but he was pleased with himself for knowing the correct answer. He nodded, then turned to leave. “Wait! That’s not all.” Splinter grabbed Oakaford’s shoulder. “I mean, have you h...

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As Easy as Lighting Wet Wood with a Candle

Weekly Contest #253

"I won't have it," Lady Nimmo said with her hands on her hips. "There has to be another way." The mighty victor over shadow elves and dragons sought an edge in this argument but found none."But there isn't," Trungen said without emotion. "I will hammer the cork into place. You three will sail to the fleet.""I won't leave you behind, and I'm not leaving the stumpers." Battle scenes flashed through her mind. Dragons shooting fire-bolts. Stumpers on fire. A shadow elf slicing her father's face with a knife."The stumpers and I will be fine.""Wit...

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The Nitwits Around Here are Such a Bore

Weekly Contest #252

A castle keep is all that remains of an ancient crumbling castle. It overlooks a valley centered on a tiny island surrounded by dragon-infested mountains. The shadow elves brought the Eye of Duran, which they stole from King Moreland of Selwyn, to this keep for safekeeping. The shadow elves allied with the fire-bolt dragons because the Selwyn navy wouldn't have a prayer to follow. The fiery barrage from the dragons would obliterate their ships before they spotted one palm tree. A messenger dragon sent from their fleet out at sea had warned t...

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You Two Make Horrible Nurses

Weekly Contest #251

A dragon flew from his nest atop an island mountain to do a little fishing. He reached into the waves and snagged a big one with his back claw, and ascended into the sky. As he did, he saw an odd stick floating in the water. What made it odd was that it was vertical instead of the more acceptable horizontal position. However, his attention quickly returned to his catch as it fiercely struggled to escape. He flew back to his clan's nest, securing the fish with both claws and forgot all about the strange stick in the sea.He would have known it...

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The Weight-to-Oar Ratio

Weekly Contest #250

Jorton, the only town allowed in Trungen Forest and home of Lady Nimmo, is having its first secret meeting. Of course, since it's a secret, everyone knows about it. The Stumper Guard deployed to Lady Nimmo's house to prevent eavesdropping. They chased off teenagers from one side of Lady Nimmo's house to find their parents on the other side. When they escorted them away, dwarfs snuck to the back. Everyone pressed to know what the hush-hush was all about.Inside Lady Nimmo's house, the messenger from Selwyn addressed the room containing Lady Ni...

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Oh, My! Are We About to Get in a Fight?

Weekly Contest #249

No one would argue that watching is essential when on night watch. That's why it's called night watch instead of night play-around. However, a couple of magical tree stumps guarding the eastern edge of Trungen Forest weren't watching while on night watch."Alright, do that again, but this time with your eyes closed," Splinter said. He was four feet, taller than most stumpers, with a carved beard and a small crack in the middle of his forehead."Are you going to?" Tat asked. Carved from a tree used by lovers to display their undying love, he ha...

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Persuasion

Weekly Contest #248

"Dwarfs, don't forget!" Flimlet yelled. He sat alone with a beer mug, his hair disheveled and dirty, and his clothes shabby and stained. The pub was empty, except for a barmaid behind the counter washing dishes. The absence of customers was excusable since it was only ten in the morning. Two weeks had passed since the dwarf had returned from Lord Balister's mine. And during that time, he practically lived here."Do you think I'll forget?" Having no one to argue with, he turned to the wall, daring it to disagree. "I'll never forget! You h...

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The Howls of the Netterback

Weekly Contest #247

Lord Balister bounded up the spiral stairs, leaving his guards in the dust. His eyes danced in the torchlight, and he could not suppress a childish smile that stretched from ear to ear. The sun said hello and blinded him for a moment as he exited out onto the battlements. A small army of men, women, and stumpers stood on the ground below. He composed himself before greeting them, his excitement barely contained."Lady Nimmo! It's been too long!" Lord Balister shouted."You know why we're here!"He exaggerated, scratching his head. "I'm sure I d...

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A Whipped Dwarf

Weekly Contest #246

"Stop shaking and just throw," Flimlet said.Gormick, a nervous black-bearded dwarf, ignored his dwarf comrade and continued shaking his fist full of five coins, "Four dragons! Four dragons! By Xer-Bane! Give me four dragons!" He released the coins into a walled square wooden game board. The coins bounced, spun, and fell – two dragons and three kings."Yes! Ah ha! Got you!" Flimlet slid a large pile of coins towards him. "All mine!""You're a butt hole," Gormick shook his head and laughed. "But a richer butt hole than me.""Sorry, Gormick," Flim...

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A Very Big Pile of Ellawyn Crap

Weekly Contest #245

"Lord Balister's men are at it again," Oakaford, the captain of the Stumper Guard, said as he entered Lady Nimmo's living room, which was currently serving as the temporary town hall. Lady Nimmo put down her quill pen and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Where this time?" The magical tree stump was carrying a rolled parchment that he placed on the table. The parchment revealed a detailed map of Trungen Forest. "There," Oakaford pointed to a spot on the southeastern edge of the forest. "That man!" Lady Nimmo stood. "Oakaford, assemble the Stu...

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Take Me To Your Leader

Weekly Contest #244

"We need beautiful art around here," Gladise said with a chuckle. Lady Nimmo sat in the corner of the "art" room, sewing a new dress. She laughed at her mother, who was painting a self-portrait from a mirror's reflection leaning against a wall. "And you're making sure we do?" Lady Nimmo said. "Naturally." "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're conceited." Gladise peeked around her canvas, staring at her reflection, playfully ignoring her daughter's jibe. She returned to her canvas and skillfully added strokes. It was Gladise's way of u...

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Crazy Fire Lovers!

Weekly Contest #243

The first words I heard sounded like happiness. "There you go. All done." I opened my newly carved eyes and saw a beautiful woman with long brunette hair wearing a dandelion yellow dress. She put her carving knife away and smiled, "My name is Lady Nimmo." The ability to see and hear was enthralling. When I was a tree, I only sensed sounds and pictured sights. But this was an entirely different world."It takes some time to get used to," she told me. "For a few days, I'd like you to stick with me so I can help ease you into your new life. Woul...

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