Life of a Buppi

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Miaou
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Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Thu Feb 02, 2017 2:02 pm

Little halfling hands dig through a backpack, searching for his jar of King's Crown petals. Instead, they find a jar of... Milk? Is this milk? It seems to have gone bad. Buppi stares at this jar, turning it around as he sits by the fireplace, rear on the ground and legs sprawled out before him. What was he to do with this milk? Throw it out? Might make some cheese with it. Maybe it's salvageable as cheese. A cream?

No, Buppi decides to drink it, and move on with his searching.




~~~~~



"So much talking. What was I doing again?

Oh yes. Yet another meeting. Why was I here? Why haven't they thrown me out? At least I want to be at this meeting. These are the people I care about. Most of them, anyway."

Buppi's mind raced as Myon's Council meeting went on. Were they talking about horses? It doesn't matter. Keep calm. Your friends said you belong here.

The discussions continued, the outsider halfling did his part to not interrupt. Stand behind Celendil and Zelphar. They are the limelight. Just keep out of the way, Buppi. You are only here to serve. You have no rights, you have nothing to give them except your service. All you do is steal, just like every halfling. Steal their culture, steal their language. Steal their time, their gods, and their love.

"The councilors said something. Smile for them, Buppi. That will smooth things over. Ah, Nicodemus spoke up! My knight! Perhaps I can worm my way over there to make him look better. I know things-

Don't make me speak before all these people, My Knight. Please."

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Thu Feb 09, 2017 3:32 am

Soft steps on the paths around Bendir's village. Buppi was returning from his nightly patrol of the Arelith Forest. These days his walks are mostly meditative, a time to think and formulate. To roll thoughts over in his mind. His walk was without incident, the most pressing issue was the thoughts bugging him. Comments of a certain hin towards him, nagging at his thoughts.

""Except your mouth has fangs and your eyes are a little.. scary.

...but you have the obstacle of dealing with your own uhm. Personal dilemmas, which will get in the way of clarity. So I guess it depends on how you deal with what's keeping your spirit down. Closure or resolution."

Each time he thinks of those phrases the muscles in his chubby cheeks twitch and force a frown. There is nothing he could do about it. The block in his mind, the obstacles. They were placed there, and they wouldn't leave easily.

Foot after foot brought him at the crossing before Bendir. Two elves stood before him, one male and one female. Mages of sorts. Buppi knew the female, who was showing intricate tattoos to the other, speaking in their own tongue. Greetings were exchanged. It was Evanara, a kind spirit. She was ever kind to Buppi, and he made sure to repay it ten-fold when he could. Their conversation went to the topic of their travels, towards the Tower.


"No road signs at the intersections, either. I'm figuring south leads to the tower, though." Spoke the elven male. Buppi was just about to speak up. He had his duty, he could escort them. Perhaps they would be happy to have him along and thankful for the protection. Perhaps they could speak some and he'd be at peace-

"I'm jus' on m'way past there m'self. I can show ya th'way if y'like." Spoke a thick hinnish accent. Magpie, an old face around Bendir came walking down the path. Buppi's heart sank. The words taken out of his mouth. The duty stripped of him. "Oh - Thank you." Responded Evanara, the spear of discouragement shoved deeper into Buppi's soul.

He turned away from them quickly. Buppi's feet driving him up the nearby hill towards the village, away from the group. A call asking some question, and some shout by him in reply. He didn't know what was said. He didn't know how he replied. It was taken from him, he was unneeded by them.

The obstacles grew.

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Tue Feb 28, 2017 3:09 am

Finally, another clue given. Insight into the sins of a man half-born to this world and rejected until finally taken in for far too short a time. A spark in those eyes of his from beyond the grave, showing that there was still hope. Still the ability to find out who did this to the man this little hin so loved.

The vial was handed back, covered in an oiled wrap accompanied by a note. The powder was just as it was before, the folly of one who was ever cautious, but greed sapped the life from him. A note with, explaining what Buppi already knew. What he has lied to himself, what was the real reason this halfling was stripped of his guide in life. Someone knew what he did, someone knew the truth. The half-born lied to the hin, and without the truth it vanished with him as the fears of an old tome sprung forth and slew him where he sat.

This halfling yet lives, though. The vial is stowed, the note almost thrown to the flames to vanish as the half-born did. The note instead is folded and with a movement of the halfling's hand, the paper vanishes behind his thick cloak. He knew what was on the page even before he read it, as he had been too frightened to write it himself. But it is now sealed into being by ink, the fact that a lie was given to Buppi. The unspeakable had happened, that one could open a door for this halfling so readily yet hide the key that allows him to open it again himself.

The vial remains on him always, as does the book. A reminder, for Buppi, that he is not to expire this day.

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Mon Aug 28, 2017 12:50 am

Water-treated planks creaked as the ship sailed though the night sea. The sky illuminated by thousands of stars, the moon shining brightly down to the calm waters. As the sea moved it sparkled, reflecting the sky above it. It was a peaceful night with not many on the deck. For the moment there was only a halfling, standing on a crate to look over the railing at the sea stretching into the distance.

This hin had a smile of smiles on his face. While he looked out at the wonderful sight before him, it was clear to any who looked at him that his mind was elsewhere. Some distraction, some idea or thought that was rolling through his mind. His grip tightens on the railing, his smiling only getting wider and wider, cutting though those cheeks of his.

He was wandering. Exploring. There was little here he needed to worry about. Nobody here to call him a murderer, no one to call him a kinslayer or a monster. No, there was none of that. He could be himself. He could be free of those chains weighing him down, and be happy. His left hand reaches up to rest over his heart to feel it dancing away inside his chest, free to express itself.

And this hin expressed himself. A look around the deck to make sure nobody was paying attention and a hop off the crate to take him to a merry dance. Feet tapped the wood underneath as he moved and jigged. A dance in the moonlight. His smile remains as he twirls, dipping low then leaping. Soft humming begins to flow from the dancing hin to add a song to the movements. Another twirl, an extended arm, head tilting back as he leaned to the side. He speeds up, flowing around his little dance floor on the deck. The hummed song raising in volume until-

The ship lurches, a rogue wave hitting the side. The halfling was only on one foot causing him to be launched back at the crate he once stood on. His dance interrupted the humming stops, blinking. On his rear, he looks around to see the sailors not disturbed at all. The sea being the sea. The hin laughs happily at the situation which is met with others on the deck telling him to hush up. He apologizes happily and gets up, wiping himself off. His feet move to take him back down below to where he was staying for the trip. When the door opened, he only smiled more.

He was so warm inside. So happy. He was free.

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:30 pm

Dry blades of grass poked between his toes. The halfling paused on the top of a hill to look over the vast area. The mainland was such a sight for him, with actual fields of grass and rolling terrain. It was a wonderful place. Just land as far as one could see, and he had legs that could take him that far.

The hill he stood on was like the rest around him. Low, but giving enough of height to lift him above the other rolling mounds. The sun was high above, a hawk circled around a few miles to his left. It was a pleasing warm day for the hin, the parched land lettings it's grasses and shrubs claw towards the sky for rain. The clouds to his south foretold that the plant-life will soon get it's wish.

The hin has taken off his cloak and rolled up his sleeves. Walking with his small pack, he carried very little. He was content all the same, enjoying the weather and land he could just walk for days. But now he has paused to look at it all, look where he's wandered to this day. What beauty it is to roam, and see sights like this!

A voice calls up from the direction he was going. He looks to the source and smiles. He grabs hold of his pack straps and starts down the hill. First a walk, then a jog into a full on sprint. He jumps once over a rock and continues to barrel down as fast as he can before getting to the dip and up the next hill. At about halfway he joins who the voice came from smiling wildly. They had only a day or so left of this freedom.

He was so proud and happy.

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:21 am

The docks were booming with business. A port with too many ships in it's dock. Buppi was out getting food for the remaining travels. Exotic looking fish as well as fresh bread from the town proper's bakery. Some water, and a bottle of wine he thought looked interest. All of this he carried in a cheap basket, pressed to his chest by both arms. His sight looked between the wine bottle and a stick of break coming out of the top.

His bouncing steps brought him along the cobble path, looking at various merchants sell to the traders, other travelers. Any who spotted this halfling would either ignore him or pause and look as if it was an oddity. Buppi didn't mind. The port was lively, and he was enjoying his walk.

Though perhaps, he thought, it was due to what he wore. A long blueish robe, ceremonial in design. It was much too long for him, made for a human or elf. The sleeves were pulled back to fit and hung baggy, the long cloth pulled up and bundled around his knees, yet it dragged behind him on the ground. His diadem shined brightly in the morning light, and he had a smile to match it. Perhaps they thought it a strange sight. He did not mind. He kept walking.




~~~~~


The ship had finally come to take him home. His home. It was quick to get on and find the quarters he was staying in. Days past as they traveled across the sea back towards Arelith. He sat on another's lap at one point to look over the railing at the sea waltz around their ship, feel the wind against his face, and enjoy the moment. His mind was warm to match his heart as it raced in joy. He was content and happy. He felt an amazing spark of life in his own chest and he shivered slightly. A smile refused to be removed from his lips. It was peaceful, it was happiness. His gaze look up to the clouds floating above freely, and his lips parted to speak two simple words.

"I love."

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:06 am

"I messed up. I almost ruined everything. I'm not allowed to die. I can not let myself simply get away with coming that close."

Thoughts like this flow through the hin's mind. Alone, the halfling huddled around a fire in a simple robe. It was a dark night, only a sliver of a moon visible to give natural light. He was in the woods, the Bramble Woods to be exact. A small thicket, a small nook between a few trees out of sight. No one would see him, nobody would bother him. It was as he wished.

Wind picked up and the hin looked to the dark sky. A small breath and he stood, the robe falling off him. Underneath he was nude, and his feet stepped around the fire to the other side. On the ground was a blade, a human might call it a short sword, but to Buppi it was a proper blade. Made of silver, it was clearly a beautiful blade to behold. Elven etchings betray the origin, and a simple leather wrap around the handle was the only other detail. He bent over and picked up the silver blade, looking it over. Another small hesitant breath, and he lifted the blade up.

"I will be seen as worthless. I am only a vessel to serve. If I am expected to simply serve, I will do so. So long as I am seen as useful. So long as I have some form of worth visible to see. I am given over and not free... And I am fine with this."

The blade's tip is turned downwards, and he thrusts the blade downwards into the soil. The blade holds, shoved into the earth a good number of inches. Buppi gives another nervous breath, and he straightens. His arms extend, and the halfling begins to dance.

His movements are well trained. Disciplined, studied, expressive. An arm to the side, then curled towards his chest and out the other way, other hand joining it as it crosses his torso. A lean to the side, his feet begin to move, pressing into the dirt for only a moment until they flutter to the next spot. His dance brings him to circle the silver sword, slowly moving gracefully around it.

"If I mess up more, if I simply take kind words to mean I did not entirely fail, I am not prepared. I am not safe, and those I love are not safe from me as well. I must be better than this. They require it of me."

Humming begins to drone out of the hin, a soft and light-hearted melody to accompany the dance. Buppi dances a bit closer to the blade and his arm swings down, and back up. He spins slowly, lifting one leg and giving a small jump. He glances to his arm, and sees the crimson colour. A clean gash runs up the inside of his forearm. Drops begin to pour onto the dirt as he dances over them, mixing the scarlett liquid in with the earth.

"Just serve. Just be there for them. Make sure you are there for them. Do whatever you need to do to be with them. Stop /failing/."

His other arm rises in the dance, and falls close to the blade. Another cut, he winces slightly. The dance continues, whatever he was performing continuing on. Next, his leg swings close to the blade and his calf is cut, bleeding freely. The the blade is now coloured silver and red, the flames from the fire dancing off the metal's reflection. A low pass, and his second leg is brought close to the blade, the calf cut much like the other. All four of his limbs now bleed freely, dripping down to the ground and off his body. His humming begins to fade, and his dancing slows. He looks to the bloodied blade expectingly.

Nothing happens.

Buppi shutters, and stops his movements. He stands, staring at the blade, expecting something, anything, to happen to it. Time passes, and still the blade simply remains stuck in the ground, the blood now dry. He glances to his arms and winces and he moves them.

"I fail again."

His head shakes, feet taking him to his things off to the side. His hands fish out cloth and begins the process of wrapping up the gashes. He really should heal them properly, or have them seen to. They weren't small by any degree, though not deep as well. He simply wraps them up instead, and begins to put on his clothing and gear.

Dressed, he moves to the fireplace and gathers up the robes before glancing to the blade. An exhale, his hand moves to the hilt and pulls upwards. He winces as pain from the wound on his arm dislikes his use of the limb, but the sword comes free. The silver blade is wiped on the grass to crudely clean it, and it's slid into one of the loops on his belt. The halfling turns and walks away from the small clearing in the woods, and with a muttered spell the fire goes out.

"I will always fail."

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Mon Feb 26, 2018 4:41 am

The hin stopped his comment short. The words he was about to say were not to be spoken.

He was with the elf Snow, a doctor. The two were close, they considered each other family. Both stood somewhere within Cordor, off a side street. Signs of fatigue display on both of them, just returning from a trip to scrounge up texts and scrolls of magic. Plans to retire have already been said, though Buppi's words being cut off didn't go unnoticed.


"You can speak honestly with me, love."

The halfling's head shakes faintly to dispel such an idea. He wasn't supposed to be a burden on her. She supported him, he protected her. Buppi's disposition was already off as is, having been met with a sudden physical contact with a different elf just minutes ago, a sudden kiss on the forehead to boot. There was no point troubling Snow with his mixed feelings and thoughts.

Snow takes it upon herself to act, lowering herself and wiping away at the spot where the other elf had placed the sudden kiss. In it's place, she places her own.
"You're alright; don't fret so much."

The halfling's chin lowers ever-so slightly at the display of affection. Truly, they were close, she knew the other elf troubled him. Alas, she perhaps misunderstood exactly how. "Right. Sorry. I'll try t'not fret as much," Buppi responds in a soft tone. "I'll seeya later."

Standing, Snow replies, "Byebye, love you." Buppi responds in turn and twists to face the direction out of the city. As soon as he turns, his expression drops. The thoughts come, he can't go to Snow with it all. He's brought it up to others, they all either felt disgusted or said they would support him, yet nothing came of it.

"I wish I was more like you, Snow, in so many ways." Buppi mutters to himself as he walks away, out of earshot already. Though a door, and he was out in the open air. "If only I could grant you your wish. Not this half-done job I did, but if I could actually grant it... Perhaps you would know true happiness." His gloominess grows as his legs bring him northward along the Trader's Route. It was going to be another night of troubled sleep.

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Re: Life of a Buppi

Post by Miaou » Sun May 13, 2018 5:05 pm

The Arelith Forest was it's normal self. The creeks ran, the leaves fell. A patrol of elves strolled along the path heading towards the north. Perhaps their destination was the Nexus Falls. Beyond them were taller shapes; ogres crouched behind trees and rocks. Preparing an ambush. They wouldn't be successful. The elves had already noticed them far down the road. Goes to show that those elven ears and eyes aren't just for show.

A shadow moved in the opposite direction, southward. A paw lands on a rock and stays there. Twin hazel disks peer forward, the large black furred head lifting to see from a slightly higher angle. Between those eyes rested a runic diamond, held in place by a silver linked chain wrapped around that pitch-black head. This panther had no need to assist the elves, or the ogre. It's sights were set on a different beast.

His target moved. The shadow moved with, it's feline form taking its shape as the moon's light hit his fur. Hunched low, his legs moved quickly to keep up. His prey stopped once more. A stag. It found a patch of grass to eat from. This was perfect for the jungle cat. Paws moved him closer until he was within distance to strike. A pause, a wait. The stags head lifts to check its surroundings, finds nothing, and lowers to graze once more. The panther lowers half an inch more… And lunges.



The panther now walks proudly with his prey, the stag dragged along by the neck. A simple hunt, but he could eat. Those hazel eyes spot another hunter. A wolf. Multiple wolves. A mother with her children, three in all. The panther could see how the mother was trying. How it was hard to keep her children fed with the gnolls and bugbears making ruin of some of the forest’s hunting grounds.

The panther glances to the stag, then to the wolves. Warm air escapes his nose in a sigh, and he pads over to the wolves’ current spot. Not hiding himself, he bring the stag closer to them. The mother wolf instantly becomes defensive. Snarling and biting towards the panther. The large cat just drops the stag, and steps away. A dip of the head towards the body, the panther motions,
“For you. For your pups.” The wolf growls and grows even more defensive. A barked response, “We need no charity. We survive. Remove yourself, Cat.”

And like that, the panther’s show of kindness was denied. The stag is taken and dragged off. This wasn’t the first time he was denied. It wasn’t the first time he wasn’t allowed to help. It wasn’t the first time he was casted away.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



A hin sits around outside Cordor’s main gate. He was enjoying a meal, taking a break from the rush of life and his various tasks. He was eating stag, smoked and seasoned. He happily enjoyed his food.

The traffic on the road was normal. Traders coming and going, people from the other cities and villages coming for news and supplies. Adventurers needing to sell off their pillaged goods. It was normal.


“Food, give.”

The hin looks to the side. A human in rags looked on greedily at his stag. It was clear what was going on. “Give me some.” The beggar spoke again. The halfling’s eyes narrowed, and ate another bite. He knew this beggar. This halfling knew that the beggar did nothing except demand of people, then sell and waste everything on spirits and ale. He wasn’t going to enable it anymore.

Onlookers noticed the exchange though. What they was was a beggar asking for food, and a halfling greedily eating. Finally, a human man and woman in armour stepped off the road and towards the hin.


“Share some of your meal, hin.” The woman says, looking down her nose at the halfling, the hin about to take another bite of his stag. “Rather not. He just wastes an’ abuses others generosity.”

The two armoured humans didn’t take this response lightly. “You do not give charitably to those in need?” The halfling didn’t want to hear it. There was no point in trying to explain the situation to them, they did not listen to what he had already said. “Hin, you do not deserve to be in a city if you do not share with it all.”

The halfling simply leaves a portion of his food there and packs up the rest, slinging his bags under his cloak and secures them. The two humans begin to berate the hin, the beggar joining in too. How dare he not share instantly. How dare he be so selfish. He turns and walks away from the city. Away from those yelling at him.

This wasn’t the first time he was ignored. This wasn’t the first time he was misunderstood. It wasn’t the first time he was casted away.

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