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Lord Andvarinaut Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:00 pm
Deadline: Midnight @ Wednesday, March 31
 The elusive Faerin minis, they are finally here!!! And look at that~ You get a look-alike fafner with it!
This prompt will be judged purely on creativity and how amused Shikai gets reading your answers. You don't have to have perfect grammar or writing skills (as long as we can read your response), but you definitely need to have a crazy imagination! As long as your story makes some kind of insane sense, then we don't really care, as long as we fall out of our chairs laughing.
Well, okay, maybe not completely out of our chairs -- on the edge of our seat suspense works too. So if you want to go the serious route, then that's fine by us too! In this case, we want to be amazed, like "Wow... how in Andvari did they think of that?! They must be on something wonderful! ...I want some of it too!" whee
Rules
1. Each person can submit ONE entry (response) per prompt.
2. Each response can only be a maximum of 3,000 words.
Restrictions
1. You are only allowed to receive a total of ONE Fafner from all the Contests.
2. If you win more than one Contest, you can choose which Fafner you want -- the other one will be given to a runner-up.
3. You can give the Fafner you win to someone else, but ONLY to someone who participated in the same Contest that you won the Fafner from.
 You can answer one or both of the following prompts (but you are only allowed one response per prompt): Prompt 1 You are a Faerin. What mysterious world did you come from? How have you come to Andvari? What are your thoughts on Fafners and their frequent attempts to catch you? (Note: This is can be funny or serious -- you can have them come from Gumdrop City for all I care. Just be creative and funny, or really sarcastic, or even dead encyclopedia serious -- whatever you want!) Prompt 2 You are a Fafner who has, by some magical insanity caught a Faerin. How did you go about doing this? What madness did you have to go through to get this elusive fellow? Where there failed attempts? Tell me about all the craziness! (Note: Again, fun or serious. You can get your Fafner to do Tom & Jerry stupidity if you want -- I'll love it! Or you can even write a formal guide to Faerin Catching, whatever floats your boat! Just have fun, and remember, creativity is the key.)
Use the following Form to submit your response:
[b]Prompt:[/b] 1/2
[b]Word Count:[/b]
[b]Response:[/b]
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:21 pm
Prompt: 1/2 - both
Word Count: 1592
Response:
Still humming ‘The fuzzes and the wuzzes’ as he flits away from the great party, Jaffen spirals between blossoming tree limbs and tries very hard not to giggle. Perhaps he’d had a bit too much of the tunars nectar. But it was surely fun, and that was what mattered.
Of course, the other thing that mattered, was that he get home safely. But being a little too foggy from the tunars nectar, Jaffen didn’t notice the spectral puff floating just behind the next sprig of blossoms. Spectral puffs are very dangerous to Faerin as they are bits of otherness. An unwary Faerin who stumbles into a spectral puff will find himself somewhere other. In all of the history of Faerin, only four have ever found their way back from other.
But Jaffen wasn’t thinking about spectral puffs as the tunars nectar pleasantly muddled everything, “And the fuzzes wuzzes all around the wuzzy fuzzy . . .” With a flit and a spin and a dive between the flowers, Jaffen found his face full of spectral puff.
Panicking he struggled and whirled and went tail over wings into a pond that wasn’t suppose to be there. Great, he’d been pulled into the other, how was he ever going to find his way back home now?!
Bedraggled and wet and fuddled and miserable and trying very hard to forget fuzzes and wuzzes and tunars nectar, Jaffen floundered his way to the edge of the pond. Feeling sick, his head reeling and not sure if it was from the spectral cloud or the nectar, Jaffen miserably held his wings out from his body. They were completely soaked. Not only was he in the other, but there would be no flying for him until his wings dried.
Nylissa had heard the splashing, the tiny sounds of misery and the silence of the evening insects. What on Andvari had happened? Stalking low to the ground she prowled forward through the bushes to see what was happening in her pond. Sneaking up, Nylissa peered between the branches and saw something new. Small and green and soaking wet was a little, was that a Faerin? She thought they were a myth, but it surely looked like what Faerin were said to look like. How had it gotten into her pond?
The slight noise of startlement that escaped Nylissa alerted Jaffen to his watcher. Starting up, Jaffen tried to fly away but instead of soaring gracefully away, dove into a rather messy patch of mud. Swearing never to drink tunars nectar again, Jaffen floundered in the mud, trying to extricate himself. Wet wings wen’t going to support flight, he’d have to find another way to escape.
Nylissa watched as the creature pulled itself out of the mud, another Fafner might have laughed, but he looked so pitiful that she couldn’t help but feel bad for the poor thing. It wasn’t until he was free of the mud that she realized that she’d need to catch him if she wanted to keep him around. Bounding out of the bushes in a storm of ripped leaves and twigs, Nylissa tried to catch Jaffen in one quick movement. Of course, ripping through bushes can be mighty painful, and a bit detrimental to ones momentum.
The sound of something large coming through the bushes at him caused Jaffen to bolt. He nearly made the same mistake, but remembered his sodden wings and turned his leap airward into a leap at a nearby tree. His claws finding purchase on the bark, Jaffen scrambled higher into the tree. The extra weight of the mud still clinging to his body slowing him down.
Well that was unexpected, Nylissa shook the pain of branch scratches from her mind as she saw the Faerin scramble into the tree. Bounding towards the same tree, she hoped to catch him quickly, he looked rather disheveled and she so wanted to give the cute little thing a bath with plenty of bubbles, jasmine scented, and find some ribbons to tie about his cute little anthers. Of course, Nylissa wasn’t as adept at climbing trees, it was just so dirty an activity. But then, Nylissa’s wings weren’t wet.
Whatever it was that was chasing him was flying towards him, how on earth was Jaffen to get away when he couldn’t fly?! Quickly scurrying along a limb, Jaffen jumped, his wings outstretched, towards the branch of another tree. Not able to fly, his wet wings still gave his jump some stability and he only wobbled a little. His front claws dug into the branch as his hind legs missed it entirely. Scrambling, he made it onto the branch and hustled towards the tree trunk, where the branches would be thicker and it would be harder for a larger creature to fly.
Nylissa, in dismay, “No, wait!” She almost managed to swerve in time to avoid a branch between her and the Faerin, her tail now fairly bristled with twigs and leaves. She’d have the time trying to get it clean and untangled without ripping any of it out. But still, having that Faerin would make up for the trouble. Carefully she worked her way towards the Faerin in the tree, having to do more climbing than she’d have liked, only able to use her wings to keep her from breaking through the branches that wouldn’t support her weight. After this, she’d need the bubble bath too, maybe she should add some sea salts to the bath, and some lavender to sooth her nerves.
It was a good thing Jaffen didn’t know Nylissa’s plan of a bath, or he might have jumped to his death when he came to the end of the tree branch he was on. She was too close to go back to the trunk and there was no where for him to leap to from here. He was well and truly trapped. His sides heaving with his exertion, Jaffen turned to look back at the creature that was chasing him.
What? That was the creature? It looked almost as though someone had taken his sister and stretched and twisted her and made her other. He was in the other, was this what he looked like here? No, he was still small, he still had his claws, he wasn’t this thing, but still, the resemblance was striking. So much so that he didn’t notice as Nylissa got close enough to. . .
“Got ya!” Nylissa couldn’t help but calling with glee as she caught the Faerin. She almost dropped him as he struggled, the mud making him slick, but she held on.
She forgot, however, that she was on a tree branch. As it broke from under her, she spread her wings, able to slow their fall, but still the pair landed unceremoniously in the pond.
Truly dejected at this point, Jaffen stopped struggling. He’d been caught and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. Floating again in the water, his muscles rubber from the exertion, he waited to be eaten.
Nylissa almost forgot the Faerin as she saw her hair floating about her in dismay, not just a bath, but a true spa day was needed to take care of this mess! Starting towards the edge she rememberd, just in time, to scoop up Jaffen. Of course, she couldn’t very well swim and hold him. A slight wince as she determined the safest way to carry him back to land.
Jaffen was very surprised when the creature placed him on her head. That was not at all what he expected. And while her hair was wet, it was a much nicer place to be than anywhere else he’d been since he fell through that spectral puff. Settling, he almost fell asleep before she had even paddled back to the edge of the pond.
Of course, after all that exertion, the tunars nectar was not sitting well in his stomach and it decided to rebel. He did manage to make it to Nylissa’s ear before emptying his stomach, but from her point of view, that was hardly an improvement.
It was six hours and endless smelling salts later that Nylissa finally felt they were both clean enough to sleep for the night. Jaffen was sure that this ‘Other’ place was the worst possible place anyone could ever find themselves. But he’d been fed so many lovely berries that his belly was twice it’s normal size and even if his wings weren’t still damp, he didn’t know that he would be able to fly just now.
The next morning, as Nylissa took them back to the bath house, needing a day of beautifying after yesterday’s activities and extensive cleansing, Jaffen rather wished he’d found a way away during the night. But it was only four more hours, and he had to admit he was cleaner and smelled better than he ever had before. He wasn’t so keen on ribbons and ripped them off every time she tried to put some on him, but the shiny metal on his tail and foreleg were rather nice. Maybe it wasn’t so bad here. If he could just find a way to stay out of the bath house, he could do with endless berries, shiny metal, and riding around on Nylissa’s back. And she didn’t stop him when he flitted off to be by himself now that he was clean.
Of course, he was careful to stay clean, the scent of jasmine was still overpowering in his nose and he surely didn't care for another bath.
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:21 pm
Prompt: 2
Word Count:1,025 according to Word.
Response: A green fafner with wings meets you at the place where the forest meets the meadows. The fafner doesn’t catch your eye much, except maybe for the wings, but the floating, winged, reptile thing flying by the fafner’s head does. It floats down to the fafner, who was now lying down, and seemed to whisper into its ear. You couldn’t make out what was being said, especially since it seemed to be a completely different language. The fafner nodded after the floating reptile finished its high pitched chattering, which sounded kind of like a chipmunk, but more like a higher pitched version of a larger reptiles’ speech. The fafner turns back to you, its eyes filled with amusement and its tail flickering back and forth in a rhythmic movement. She, assuming from the voice, said, ”Hello, dear. You’re probably wondering what this fella is, aren’t you? Probably never seen something like this ever, have you…?” You nod. ”Well, dear, this is a Faerin.” You let out a small gasp, having known the legends of the mysterious mini. The green Faerin seemed to be cackling its head off and beside it, the fafner seemed to be holding back a laugh as well. ”So I see, you’ve heard those stories too, haven’t you? Do you wish to catch--” The fafner stopped, as the faerin screeched something to the fafner and batted its little claws against the fafner’s head. ”Okay okay! I get it! The fafner turns to you, sighing. ”She says I should say ‘become friends’ instead of ‘catch.’ But, would you like to learn, dear?” You nod, excited to become one of the first Faerin “companions.” ”What are you waiting for? Let’s go! And by the way, my name is Adrianna. This here is Nyra.” The fafner, Adrianna, starts trotting towards the forest, the Faerin following, and only pausing to turn her head and say, ”You coming?” You quickly run to catch up; trying not to anger Adrianna is hopes of learning the secrets the Faerins have been keeping for several millennium.
After a while of walking, green fafner finally stopped. ”I doubt you know this, but this forest is a huge gathering for Faerins. This is where fafners usually find Faerins, or more accurately, catch glimpses of them. We will start here, and maybe, if we are lucky, spot a Faerin.” She pulled out a thick book out of the hollow of a tree. ”This is a dictionary. We’re going to look up what a Faerin is, according to this.” Adrianna flipped the pages lazily with her paw, until she finally paused, and then quickly closed the book again. “What’s wrong?” you ask her. ”Stupid book. Not very helpful.” she muttered. ”Okay, then, we’ll use my definition. And I think it is… Adrianna closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she said, ”A flying thing. With wings.” You try to hold back a snicker at the very very descriptive definition. And the redundancy. A “thing” with wings should know how to fly right? And the serious look on Adrianna’s face didn’t help either. Adrianna shoots you a glare, before continuing. ”Most myths are correct. But we will go over them anyways. Faerins are independent creatures, but loyal. They are very elusive. They have wings for quiet flying to avoid others, as you can tell. As for the rest of the Faerin’s physical appearance, I think you can see for yourself. Now, we are going to go over catchin—I mean befriending a Faerin.” Using her paw, she started listing things in the soft, sand-like dirt next to her.
1. One must know where to find Faerins.
”First one’s fairly simple.” Adrianna said. ”As you well know, we are in a forest where Faerins commonly gather. If you do not know where to find Faerins, how do you expect to meet one? Faerins tend not to go looking for fafners unless there is an emergency. Next step…
2.One must know what attracts Faerins.
”This one is fairly straightforward as well. Of course, each Faerin has likes specific likings, but most like the wilderness and …shiny stuff. Luring the Faerin out is key, as said before, since they don’t like showing themselves willingly to fafners. Using what a Faerin likes best is the easiest and most guaranteed way, but of course, you don’t know what it is until you’ve met the Faerin, do you? Nyra here like crab apples.”
3.One must play music to attract a Faerin.
”Faerins like music. Sing to them, play an instrument, do something to attract a Faerin’s attention. Faerins particularly like high pitch sounds, so singing on a high key or playing an instrument such as a flute would secure your chances. However, if you cannot sing, don’t sing. Can’t play an instrument, don’t play. For it will curse you forever, and you will never be able to find a Faerin, ever again.”
4.Faerins hate peanut butter. One must use this to their advantage.
Adrianna shuddered. ”Faerins hate peanut butter. This is the last part of ‘befriending’ a Faerin. Not only do they not like the sticky-ness, but they would almost anything to get away from its buttery, peanut-y ness. No one knows why they don’t like it, not even the Faerins. They just know they have to get away from it. Bring a can of peanut butter with you, and in exchange for releasing the Faerin from the gooey-ness of peanut butter, make it stay with you. Faerins are good at keeping their deals, so after a while, it will get used to you. That is all there is. In time, he or she will become a great companion.”
You ask Adrianna if that was how she befriended her Faerin. Adrianna smiled, revealing her extremely sharp, pointed teeth for the first time. “No, my dear. That is not how I befriended Nyra here. Actually, ‘befriended’ isn’t the right word to use in my case. You might have noticed a resemblance between the two of us. That is because we are related by blood. I am half fafner, half Faerin. Nyra is my mother.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:15 pm
Prompt: 1
Word Count: 259
Response:
I come from a magical land,
But the food there is boring and bland!
I had quite enough,
So I packed up my stuff,
And I hoped for a new life most grand.
My wings grew so heavy, like steel,
But I think it was worth the ordeal.
For when I came across
This delectible moss,
I knew I had found a great meal.
But what is this sound that I hear?
A predator charging, I fear!
I try to take cover
Until I discover
A smell so intriguingly queer.
I know in my heart I'm a fool,
Yet the scent makes my mouth start to drool.
If I stay I could die,
But - oh god, is that PIE?!
And with that, I have just lost my cool.
I leap at the source of the smell.
I feel like I'm under a spell!
But I can't turn away;
My nose must obey!
'Round the source of the odor I dwell.
It is then that I see to the side
The predator smiling with pride.
I break down and cry
As I nom my last pie,
And envision my body all fried.
"Oh no, don't be sad!" it exclaims,
"I just want a new friend to play games!
You see, I am new
To this town, and so blue!
Will you stay with me please? My name's James."
I cannot believe what I hear.
He just wanted friends to be near?
I know I could try...
If he'd make me more pie,
So I'll eat tasty food through the year! biggrin
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:46 pm
Prompt: Both
Word Count: 770
Response:
Once upon a time there lived a Fafner and her Faerin, they were happy as can be. It’s quite interesting how these two became friends, they were family! …………....Oh who am I kidding they were enemies at the beginning. Layla the Faerin lived in the sky on a cloud called Tippy Dippy Springs. See it really wasn’t in the clouds but it was on the highest mountain peak on a island far off the coast of Snow… This island is so far away but as a faerin, Layla, was tired of her family ways. Always bow to her elders and to her eligible male faerin. She was lady in waiting and she didn’t like it. Her mother and father wanted the good life for her. As that is she did not. She wanted a life, friends, and someone to treat her with respect. As a young lady Faerin, she studied about Fafners and their culture. She wanted to make her move and she needed to do it soon before she was married off.
During a long cold night she left and headed for Isle of Andvari. The wind was in her favor and helped her fly straight into Andvari from the Norna Sea. She landed right between Hreidmar and Brynhild territory. The sun began to shine on her fur. She looked up and stretched. ‘Time to take a nap I think’ She found a rock and curled up on top of it.
Meanwhile Mirielle, the Fafner, was walking between the two territories freely. She loved the morning stroll through the woods. “One, two, three, and one, two, three, step, step, twirl,” She was a dancer in her mind but as being a harvester for her clan she was not allowed to know dance. Dance is not something fafners know, but she dreamt it and she was repeating her dream. As she was walking she tripped over the rock Layla was sleeping on.
“Watch where your big paws go freak of nature,” Layla said out of anger.
“Excuse me, but what are you?” Mirielle questioned.
“I am a faerin and you are a Fafner, and…” She pauses and looks at her. “We look a like.” She turned around and screamed. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH freak get away!” She starts flying into Hreidmar.
“Wait, im going to catch you!” She chases her. She brought along her stick and mud net. She chased after Layla, with the stick net in her mouth.
“Never!” She yelled back.
The run around the whole territory of Hreidmar, sticks, rocks, berries, and water was thrown at each other. Mirielle finally cornered Layla and trapped her in the net. Layla looked at her. “Why me? Why choose me?”
“Because I need a friend and I figured you know since you look like me, we could be you know….two peas in a pod?” Mirielle sat down before her and let her go out of the net.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you wanted to be friends? I would have never ran away, I need a friend too. I am new in town and I wish I could find a Fafner that I like. Which I have, my name is Layla what is yours?”
“My name is Mirielle, everyone calls me Elle.”
“Hello, Elle. Oh I never thought I would meet a Fafner but I do have a special. She repeats a best friend poem which she turns into a spiffy song. You know how true it is, when you know that no matter what happens or goes down the road, that we will always be best friend. So as time passes and as years go by, I will always be at your side. Lean on me when you need a friend, make me laugh when someone who is not a friend makes you cry, I will be there at your side.
Well that is the story of how they become friends, they truly were not enemies, it was just awkward. The two have got to know each other well. They spend every waken hour playing, talking and chatting about anything and everything that comes to their minds. Mirielle learned more about the faerin culture and why Layla left her home and her travel along the way. As for Layla she learned that being in a clan it was hard work and work came first. She loved learning about anything and everything that Andvari offered to her. So as you can plainly say they lived happily ever after.
Well as this chapter closes their next adventure opens. Tune in next month to hear about what they think of men and other minis!
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:47 pm
WINNER
Congratulations, LydaLynn!!! Shikai loved your story, and you made her go "Aww" at the end.
RUNNER-UP
Congratulations, Aethubryn!!! Shikai and Starr loved your poem so much, we decided to name you runner-up. Your prize is a Faerin, so please post in The MiNi Thread.
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Lord Andvarinaut Vice Captain
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