Greed or Thrill

[The cover of this book is stamped with the symbol of Brandobaris, a hin's footprint.]

Once upon a merry time, there were two very happy hin adventurers. The first was named Drorry, he was a famous and wealthy hin with pockets buldging with wealth, jewellery galore, and the nicest of clothes. The other, Perry was often poor, his coffers empty. While not in rags he often didn't have enough money to stay at the inn and eat - though fortunately his small skill in music paid for all his mortal needs.

When the two met one day they quickly became friends, even with such a difference in life styles. They decided that they should adventure together as hin tend to do. Drorry however had only riches in mind, while Perry just wanted the excitement of adventure, the challenge.

The two set out and soon found a cave inhabited by the nastiest of kobolds. The pair decided to challenge one another. Whomever could sneak through and take the leader's scepter would be the victor. They shook hands and entered the cave, Perry taking the passage left and Drorry the passage right.

Kobolds are crafty creatures, often setting snares in their lairs, and these kobolds were extra devious and very crafty. Both Perry and Drorry came upon such snares and traps as they headed deeper into the caves. Perry cunningly stepped around each trap before cutting the tripwires and destroying them. Drorry on the other hand knew the market price of traps and decided he would disarm them. Unfortunately for Drorry, his skill wasn't up to the task. If it wasn't for his speed he'd have lost all his fingers when they set off in his hands. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't recover them to sell back in town.

Both hin continued along their respective routes until they came upon the Great Nap chamber of the kobolds. Kobolds are also notoriously lazy creatures and nap often, with dedicated rooms for such. Perry looked at them and knew that they were trouble, so continued along. He quitely edged around the cave to get to the other side. It would be impossible to survive if he woke them by mistake. Drorry, however, saw all the sparklies that the kobolds had collected and sought to take their riches for himself. He could stuff his pockets with even more riches! He snuck over to do so, ruffling through their treasure. Moments later however, he made an awful clatter and woke the the entire room. Thankfully, Drorry had a potion of invisibility and disappeared before the kobolds figured out what was going on.

Now, Perry had come to the chamber of the kobold king, who sat mumbling and struggling to read words from a book. They might be crafty, but common isn't their native tongue after all. Leaning against the King's throne was nothing other than the scepter itself! Perry crept around, quieter than a mouse while crouching low and out of sight. Making his way behind the king's throne, he silently snatched up the King's Scepter. His heart was beating so hard he thought even the king could hear it. Yet - he went unnoticed. He made his way out as silently as he had entered. Poor Drorry, finally made it to the King's chamber when his invisibility potion wore off. But being delayed with all his wanton stealing it was so much later than Perry's arrival. The Throne Room had no scepter at all! In fact he had made such a commotion he had to flee down Perry's route to evade capture. Not only did he come away empty handed but had to spend money on a new potion of invisibility.

And so, quiet Perry was victorious. Thinking before acting, and going for the prize. Drorry learned a valuable lesson...

Don't let yourself be distracted by greed!

Original story written by Hand of Misadventure Karias Loosebrows. Story told during the first Day of Stories from memory and later written and embellished by Minto T Fuzzypaw.