Okay, my first try at writing a tale on my own :o
part 1/3

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
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(Story by Koviell Sashermasock)

Soala, this is the nickname I gave to Surfacers when I installed here. They have no idea how to pronounce my name correctly. Been 3 years I was on the surface. The fresh air, uncommon food and even the Sun please me.

The Surfacers seems a bit scared of me at first and then they completely forgot my presence. Better this way.

You must wonder "why" one of my kind wanders here? For a kobold, I was a bit… different. I always wanted to travel around the world. The underground wasn't a place for me. I wanted something new, different and have tales of my adventures. I didn't write many of them, but this one should be my most recent adventure, I should name it "The Great Escape". It started four months ago…

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I was living with the Surfacers. They did appreciate when I was playing and singing in the bar. They had no idea of the elegance of the draconic rhymes and texts, I guess they were pleased to hear me. I had more than a kind of tricks to display : juggling, riddles and such.

My personal favorites involved gambling. When drunk, it's easy to trick the Surfacers and get extra spare coin. I always had the "trick" to win in card and dice games. Well, I do let some of them win, just so they think the lady luck shine upon them. Easy.

Today, there was a strange guy in the tavern. A human with long ears, an elf, I think. He didn't stop looking at me when I was doing my tricks. I don't think he was looking at me like any anyone else in the public.

Anyway, it was time to get some coins. The big one was easy to trick. The beer I gave him with his own money was enough to cheer him up after his losses. Then there was a little guy, a little taller than I. I didn't fall for his painted coins. What a waste of my time. Then the strange guy, the mysterious elf, I think, wanted to try my little game.

Since he was a new guy, I did feel a bit "generous". I let him win the first round, just to let him be confident. I think he was a gambler, luck games didn't seem uncommon for him, by his look. I let him win the second round. I lost the coins I got today. "Feeling lucky? Come-on and try your luck, Lizard. Double that!" he said to me. The "lizard", I hate it when people call me like that. Anyway, he will be so sad when he will lose those precious coins in the next round.

I used my trick, I know I had the winning hand, easy coins with that annoying guy. He did look way too confident, maybe he's bluffing, like the others. "Try your luck again, Lizard!" he said before showing his cards. He's starting to piss me off with his attitude and… his hand? He had hand I had… "Wait!" I said, I did take a look at my cards, they changed. I don't know what happened. "It seems that you lost again, Lizard. Want to try your luck again? Double that!" he said. I have no idea why, but I did play again. I lost the bet.

It was like if my trick didn't work at all. I couldn't lose that much gold. I… I had to run away… but I couldn't, I had to play again, I couldn't do anything. "Seems like you're out of luck, Lizard. How do you plan to pay me now?" he said. How did he know I couldn't pay him? This guy had something beyond my understanding. My tricks failed me.

"Poor little Lizard, did someone stole your sweeties?" he said. I was angry, but I couldn't tell a thing. What happened to me? The other customers watching the scene were laughing at me, I wanted to flee, but I couldn't.

* "Since you cannot pay, I got a job for you, Lizard. Is that your name? Lizard?"

* "Yes… it's my name, Lizard…"

I couldn't control myself. I don't know what happen. I don't like what happen.

* "Good, Lizard. Some outside, I got a job for you"

We left the place. I don’t like this, I just want to go, but I can't. Who is this guy, and why is he doing this. I don't understand.

* "Okay little Lizard, since you obviously unable to pay me, you'll have to find a way to pay me back. Any suggestions?" He waits a bit. "Come-on little guy, talk!"

He was laughing. He knew I couldn't tell a thing.

* "Then you won't be against what I planned for you. I need a little 'something' from that place" He pointed a manor. That place was highly secured. There were guards in front of the building and inside. "It's a jewel, let's call it the Black Diamond. If you bring it back, I'll forget about your debts. If you don't, be sure you'll be a slave, and no one will ever care."

A slave? I don't want to be a slave. But stealing from that place, that does look like suicide.

* "So does the little Lizard wants to bring me the Black Diamond? I'm sure you want to. I'll let you free to act, but be sure I'll know if you run away, Lizard"

After his work, I felt I could move at my will. This guy scares me. I don't know what he's able to, I'll have to make a decision : I'll try to steal the Black Diamond.