As I promised a few words about rewarded journals. Let's start with chao8971:
chao8971: … My prehensile tail, it had returned once again. After having it removed multiple times as a child, the tail had grown back on my body. For years I had believed that I had left the life of a “Monkey Boy” behind me. Leaving the circus, removing my tail, and going to Medical School to fulfill my dream of helping others was the best move of my life, but with a tail I will never be aloud to practice medicine in my hospital anymore.
After trying to remove the tail once again, I found that the tail cannot be removed from my body without me dying this time. So I decided to resign and return to the circus once more. After traveling for a while I returned to the circus I had once been a part of to see that it had been abandoned. After looking for a while I found the Circus Master’s room with a note with nothing more then an address on it. It was my decision to then follow this address and find out what had happened to the place I had once called my home.
Driving for hours on end, I finally reached the new address. I can only describe this place as a traveling hospital. Upon entering I found that all my old friends had followed my leave and created a traveling hospital with circus freaks as the staff. Spleen Girl, The Mustached Mustache, and Bat Ball were all working there as staff. Upon arriving I was offered a job at this traveling hospital and began my new career as Monkey Doctor.
I really enjoyed this story. It started a bit surrealistic but with a nice, optimistic ending with all circus freaks creating a traveling hospital. Touching. And the last sentence was just perfect. Monkey Doctor, heh... it made me laugh.
And as for csmith:
csmith: ...It's not enough. A hospital ward only affects one area; large cities have multiple hospitals. And what about people that aren't near a hospital? That's when it came to me - the realization that I was missing two things: an area-of-effect healing spell and the power of flight.
Flight was simple. Between winged mounts, levitation scrolls, and enchanted boots, I quickly became airborne and was no longer limited to one area. However, I couldn't bring the hospital with me. I needed to BECOME the hospital.
An area-of-effect healing spell would enable me to land, gather all those affected by illness around me, and then cure them at once. The reclusive High Elves were known for their strong cleric abilities but it would be difficult to gain their trust. I would enter their city and immediately be greeted by red-level guards eyeing me dubiously. One false step would result in their displeasure and I would be killed on sight.
So, I traveled into the nearby forest. I found creatures that were up to no good, creatures that the High Elves despised. For ever enemy that I destroyed, I gained a little more respect with the High Elf Elders. After years of questing, they finally called me friend. By that point, I had the money and influence to ask them to train me in the art of area-of-effect healing.
That was 15 years ago. Ever since, my life has been filled with adventure and purpose. Traveling to the most distant parts of our planet whilst curing every sort of malady possible. How could life be any more fulfilling?
I appreciate the way you smoothly converted this story to a fantasy world. That was not an easy task and yet you were able to complete it admirably. You have completed your quest but since I cannot give you XP for that the game will have to suffice! (and may your daughter and you recover soon!)
The contest is finished, thanks for all participants and congratulations for winners.
PS I shall start a new contest soon!
