From a story concept I thought of once. It follows a rogue Dark Elf prince, who's dream is to become the land's firs bard superstar.
His best friend is a cyclops that follows him through thick and thin, and acts as his instrument guy while the dark elf performs.

The flaming skull is a monitor sent by his mother, a powerful dark elf priestess in the Underdark who DEMMANDS he come home. The skull... doesn't really do much to deter him from his dream, and our Dark elf prince just sees him as a cool mascot and little else.

I've fiddled with the idea many times, but it's a story with a lot of plot holes. for now, it's just a neat concept in my mind. But one day I'll flesh it out.