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Daniel Rogers

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

Stories (76)

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395 Followers

425 Following

76 Stories

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The Weight-to-Oar Ratio

Submitted to 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...

35 likes

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

Submitted to 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...

38 likes

Persuasion

Submitted to 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...

31 likes

The Howls of the Netterback

Submitted to 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...

32 likes

A Whipped Dwarf

Submitted to 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...

26 likes

A Very Big Pile of Ellawyn Crap

Submitted to 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...

32 likes

Take Me To Your Leader

Submitted to 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...

29 likes

Crazy Fire Lovers!

Submitted to 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...

16 likes

Living Artifacts are People Too - Well, Sort Of

Submitted to Contest #242

The Museum of Art and Artifacts in Selwyn invited Lady Nimmo to submit one of her magically created stumpers. Although a great honor, she was hesitant to accept. Several questions plagued her: Will a stumper like living in a museum? Will he scare the kids? Will he get along with the museum staff?While she agonized over the pros and cons, a shy stumper named Limb Strong approached her."My lady, may I have a moment?" Limb Strong asked. "I heard of an opportunity to work at the great museum in Selwyn.""Well, it's not exactly work.""Eh?" The stu...

15 likes

If the Spirit of Trungen Ain't Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy

Submitted to Contest #241

Oakaford, the captain of the stumper guard, frantically searched throughout the village of Jorton for Lady Nimmo. He was uncharacteristically nervous for a magical tree stump. Several times, he knocked over a cart or bucket, muttering his apologies, and absent-mindedly continued without helping clean up, which was unthinkable for a stumper—they love to clean."My goodness. My goodness," Oakaford uttered under his breath. "Have you seen Lady Nimmo?" He asked a young man sitting outside his cottage, who nodded no."Not good. No, not good at all....

17 likes

Wind, Fire, and Stupid Beasts

Submitted to Contest #240

A sudden wind blasted flames from unattended campfires, igniting the surrounding undergrowth. The flames continued increasing as the gale fanned the fire further and lit dried clumps of tall grass, low branches, and trees. Fueled by dry conditions and spread by relentless wind, a massive forest fire marched through the woods, consuming everything in its path.Jorton, a hamlet hastily built in the middle of Trungen Forest, consisted of a few cottages, barns, and stables. Nimmo, the Lady of the Woods, and her family founded the small community ...

21 likes

Stumpers Don't Have Hearts

Submitted to Contest #239

"No, no, my Dear. You've got this all wrong," Lord Balister gave his most ingratiating smile. "It was never my intention for you to feel kidnapped." He approached Nimmo with his arms outstretched. "I regret you ever misunderstood my intentions," he glanced at his soldiers standing behind her. "I blame my men for being over-exuberant. They were only to deliver my invitation and escort you," he paused and raised a finger towards the nervous men in mild reproach, "After you accepted, of course."A little woman of indistinct age stood among Lord ...

13 likes

A Pack of Lies

Submitted to Contest #238

He walked in wearing a backpack full of rocks. It was easy to tell the weight had taken its toll. Sweat stained his underarms and neckline, and his face flushed from overexertion. He moaned and groaned as waves of pain attacked his body while he walked to the nearest seat. Before he sat, he made a series of small stretches: rolling his shoulders, straightening his back, and moving his head from side to side. Every movement made him wince.“Let me take your pack?” A kind, middle-aged man stood to help.“No, thank you,” the hiker said, “It’s min...

13 likes

Like A Dragon Sitting in Church

Submitted to Contest #237

A minor disaster occurred in a quaint house inside the outer wall of Selwyn. Not that Treena would call it minor unless compared to a dragon attack or invading army. However, barring dragons or armies, Treena judged her disaster to be monumental. The family necklace broke. It was an heirloom passed down through ten generations - a golden brooch inlaid with rubies and emeralds arranged in a spiral pattern. Treena had bent to pick up her fallen hairpin. When she rose, the necklace caught on the corner of a table and snapped. Fortunately, the b...

18 likes

Lion Eyes

Submitted to Contest #231

In the heart of Texas stands an exclusive hunting club called The Gable, a two-story lodge of gigantic proportions. Made of cedar, it sprawls out over ten thousand square feet. Its front doors open onto a cobblestone deck the length of an average tree and an open-roofed cedar deck above it. This astonishing entrance is supported by six cedar logs going from ground to roof, each cut from a single tree. Everything about this lodge screams extravagant wealth: huge windows, log pillars, fountains with statues of elk, deer, and bears standing tal...

14 likes