Submitted: 20 January 1999

The First Frog of Ratha

by Ignon (the frog) Aarnat

After the 3 or 10 hour voyage (I care not which,) I arrived at my destination, ready to make as much of the trip as possible. I scoured the city looking for the many places profit could be made. I came upon three people of note, who I asked many questions of.

The first was a mature man named Raif. He practically tried to shove a lockpick down my throat when I told him I was a trader. I, of course, had none of such nonsense, If I wished to have a lockpick made, I'd just commission it from some Master lockpicker, not a street rat. Raif was rather silent on other topics, though I had a feeling some good windhaze would loosen his tongue... no matter, the only thing he could probably tell me about had to do with thieves and cutthroats anyhow.

The second person I bumped into was even worse and less classy then the first. His name was Glath, a street begger trying to sell charcoal. Of all the things, charcoal is about the worst, it would easily have soiled my lavish Belongings. I would have none of him, I didn't even ask him questions, an ignorant serf would be of no help to me.

The third person I met seemed ideal for my purposes. An old Hedgewizard, who had obviously had his share of windhaze, strolled up to me... this man I asked many questions of, about his drink, to start off, about the local guild of traders.. about thief activity.

Lastly I asked him about Ratha itself. And for reasons I shall never understood, he got a look in his eye, waved his little hands about, and cast a spell upon me!

"What are you doing?!" I asked.

But all that came out of my mouth was "ribbit," he had turned me into a frog.

Such a deed has never been more terrible as this. The prime and dignity of a one such as me... and to even ask help was of terrible consequence, I was laughed upon by everyone I passed, until at last someone helped me. A woman at that. I will not repeat her name (I doubt she would be like to be known to consort with frogs.) It is the most sick Irony I've seen that she was not just a woman, but a light-fingered pilferer of the kind I've come to dread on my trips north and south. but she lifted my small frog body, smiled upon me, and kissed my worty snoot.

_POOF_