Monthly Story Prompts
All of Kivo's monthly story prompt decisions
TW: fight scene with mentions of blood for Nov 2023 prompt (chapter 2)
Author's Notes
"As the ash settles after the Pyre’s death, the general opinion on mages seem to be cautiously stabilizing as well. The Order, which garnered heavy criticism for how they handled the Wasting Miasma monster, has redeemed themselves in the eyes of the Ivratian populace, after a heroic effort from their Mage Protectors against the Pyre.
It’s not all praise, though. There have been concerns raised—most notably by the Mage Court, and some of the more politically savvy Wild Clans—about how many monsters there have been lately, despite Miriam’s strict policies and expansive promises about keeping Ivras safe and its mages contained."
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Word Count: 464
word count (4) + world-specific (1) + evocative (2) + atmosphere (2) = 9 x 2 for prompt response = 18
Total: 18 gold
Extras: -1 Cost
February 2024
Why have there been so many monsters lately?
That’s a puzzle for someone else to solve!
Kivo slumped over his desk, gnawing on the end of his pencil. He only ever did this when he was stressed and, today, the pencil was taking quite the battering. Recently, he had seen his business take quite the hit with foot traffic being at its all time low. Due to this, his profits had taken a nose dive to the point where Kivo was really having to consider his staffing, his stocks and his marketing. What was wrong with the world that the rich and the gullible hadn't the time to gamble anymore?
The only correlation to coincide with his plummeting coffers was the rising number of corruptions that had happened over the past few months. Three big attacks of some of the most major parts of Ivras had caused many businesses to close its doors for the final time, never to reopen again. Kivo was lucky he'd lasted this long! The beating heart of the criminal underworld had seen Kivo through the hardest of times but even that was beginning to wane. At this rate, he wouldn't last much longer without it. So here he sat, stooped over the logbooks and ledgers, trying to figure out a way to keep the doors of the Horseshoe Saloon open without having to substitute quality and staff but he was finding it a difficult task to undertake. Cuts were going to have to be made. As much as he liked to parade around, acting as if he had no heart to crush, deep down there was a beating feeling beneath his exterior which cared for his staff and his home. How was he going to tell them he was cutting hours and letting people go? Their wallets were already squeezed, trying to keep themselves and their families alive. Here comes Kivo to rip the rug from beneath them and push them further to the bottom of the barrel.
As much as he hated to do all of this, he loved his money more. It's what made the world turn, sadly, and it was the only pedestal he had to stand on in this ruthless, cut-throat world. If he loses all he has, he would lose his stature and reputation. Nobody would be looking up at the homeless beggar digging through the bins on a cold winter's eve and Kivo had no intention of becoming that lowly beggar any time soon. If life had taught him nothing else, it had led him to the conclusion that he had to put himself first with no thought for others. It was the only way. Everything else was somebody else's problem to figure out.
Reluctantly, he posted a notice on the staff room board - "MEETING AT 9AM TOMORROW - EVERYONE MUST ATTEND". The sooner he began this cull, the better.