Voodoo Priest Caligari of the Marsh Meets Taffy the Determined

Caligari trudged through the Frogmaster Marsh towards Goblin Town on a supply run…yet again. He needed food, ingredients for a few potions, and could use a drink at the tavern. He’s been making this trip twice a week for what seems like centuries. The mosquitoes were thick, as usual, and he swatted them away subconsciously. The path was wet and overgrown; few passed through these difficult lands.

Three hours each way by foot, on a good day. Each journey gave him that much less time to focus on his rituals, hexes, and gris-gris.

He finally approached Goblin Town, weary from his travels, and found his way to the King’s Kobold Tavern for a refreshment and a short rest while he regained his strength. The Tavern, a small wooden dwelling, bustled with warmth and revelry. Here and there small, haphazard spells shot off, illuminating corner tables tucked away into the darkness.

“Some of these Kobolds may have had a few too many ales.” Caligari thought.

An old acquaintance of his, Sorcerer Idris of the Marsh, sat at an otherwise empty table in the back and Caligari decided to join him.

“Hullo, Caligari!” Ventured Idris. “I see you’ve come from a long journey.”

“How can you tell?” Caligari asked, a slight vanity obvious in the tone of his voice.

“Your robes are stained with marsh waters and you appear to have a small bloodstain.”

“The damn mosquitoes!” Caligari thought.

“These endless walks will not do. It’s time for me to summon a mount.” Caligari decided.

While in town, Caligari gathered the extra supplies for a potent Summon Flaming Demon Steed spell he recalled from his youth in the Voodoo Seminary. What was it again? A pinch of ghost pepper for the flames, a dash of ginseng for speed, bark of the ironwood for strength…

After collecting the rest of his supplies, Caligari headed to the alley behind the King’s Kobold Tavern for a bit of privacy while he brewed the ingredients for his Summon Flaming Demon Steed spell. As he poured the ingredients into the cauldron, he whispered an incantation:

I have a need for speed!

A need for a steed

Of the most loyal breed.

Grant me a friend!

Until the very end

Our friendship will not bend.

I call upon the Quantum Downs to grant me: FLAMING DEMON STEED!

At that moment, a sloppy, drunken Kobold emerged from the backdoor of the tavern, clumsily unwrapping a piece of Kelpie’s Bay Saltwater Taffy. He glanced at Caligari and stumbled on the uneven alley ground. His taffy flew into the air and plopped into the simmering brew just as the incantation came to a close.

Smoke swirled around the cauldron, li. ght flashed, and within a second soft neighing could be heard coming from a cloud of fog by the cauldron. A gentle gray steed slowly emerged, nervous and but proud.

“Damn you, Kobold! You’ve ruined my summoning spell!” Caligari shouted.

Far from the black, flaming steed he had imagined, this mount was small, gray, and bore a yellow bandana. He began to think of all the work he’d have to do to recast his summon spell but as he did, the steed approached him and nuzzled his arm gently. Caligari’s anger quickly faded as he looked into the pony's eyes. He realized that he was looking at a friend.

“I shall call you, Taffy the Determined’. Caligari announced. Little did he know, this would only be the beginning of their adventures together.

The Kobold, swept up in the drama of the scene and not knowing what to do, applauded, a single tear running down his green face.

Caligari decided he’d make his walk home once more, leading Taffy the entire way, and building trust in their newly formed friendship.

Entered by: 0xFB49…240e and preserved on chain (see transaction)