THE STORY OF NOHJJ THE SENRAT

    Long ago there once was a Senrat known as Nohjj.  Nohjj, unlike most of his kind, was
an only child.  This is unusual in Senrat society, as they tend to breed litters of five to eight
at a time.  Having no siblings to play with, Nohjj learned to amuse himself with music and
stories he would make up.  Nohjj especially liked music and would play for any who
would listen.
    Nohjj grew to adulthood and apprenticed with a Bard, furthering his education in music
and story telling.  He played well, but was not as impressive as many other Bards.  For this
reason, Nohjj desired a special ability other Bards did not possess.  It did not matter what
the ability was, so long as only he possessed it.
    One day, while he was traveling from one village to the next, he came upon a strange
bottle on the side of a trail in the woods.  The bottle was very old, but was still firmly
sealed.  Like most of his kind, Nohjj was attracted to shiny things, so he picked up the
bottle and cleaned off all of the dirt on it.
    With the bottle cleaned off, Nohjj could see there was a window on the side that
allowed him to see inside the bottle.  Nohjj was amazed to see a tiny Wolfdeer with wings
inside...alive!
    “Release me!” cried the tiny creature, “And you will become as great as you desire!”
    “Could you make me the greatest entertainer there ever was?  With the power to fly?
And sing in any language?” Nohjj asked.
    “If that is your desire.” answered the Winged Wolfdeer.
    So Nohjj pried off the seal and allowed the trapped beast to escape.  Smoke in all the
colors of the rainbow issued forth from the bottle and assumed the shape of the trapped
creature, then solidified.  The Wolfdeer, freed from his prison, made good on his promise
and granted Nohjj his wishes.
  Now, it is common knowledge that a normal Wolfdeer is part great gray wolf and part
Irish deer.  Many believe that it is also part human, joined with the great Shaman,
Filliu’kynney, who brought the beast into existence, but this has never been proven.  The
winged Wolfdeer is believed to have resulted in a chance mating between a Wolfdeer and
a Sparrowhawk hen, magical creatures both.  Thus, the Winged Wolfdeer, if it has any
part of human nature at all, it is not enough to fully understand humans or their humanoid
counterparts.  While it was simplicity itself to grant the power of flight on the Senrat
Nohjj, there was no basis for comparison by which it would comprehend what humans
would call ‘entertainment’, let alone ‘great entertainment’.  However, the arboreal beast
did as best he could.
  Nohjj, thrilled at finding he could leap into the air and stay there, gave no thought as to
whether the other wishes were granted.  He simply thanked the Winged Wolfdeer and flew
away with the grace and speed of a hawk.  Nohjj flew toward the next settlement that he
knew to be inhabited by all manner of men.
    As he approached the small village, he was suddenly beset by numerous arrows, many
close enough to touch.  Frightened, he flew high up and away from the volley until he was
out of sight of the bowmen.  Nohjj alit on the ground near a path that led to the village and
walked the rest of the way, anxiously looking about for any bowmen.
    “Surely,” he thought to himself, “they thought I was a bird, or wyvern, and not a
Senrat.”
    Nohjj soon reached the settlement and was delighted at the variety of beings to play for. 
There were Humans, Dwarves, Gnomes, and Elves aplenty.  Even a few Beggans, those
strange little men who live in the hollows of trees.  Nohjj quickly scouted out a location
and set up his instrument and began to play.
    Like many Bards, he was comfortable with a variety of musical instruments, though he
favored the mandolin, as it allowed him to sing as he played.  Nohjj first sang a ditty in old
Dwarven, then switched to a ballad in Elvish, followed up by an epic poem in Common. 
Nohjj was delighted that he sang in these languages as though he was born to them.  The
crowd was amazed and pleased, throwing many copper and silver coins in his bowl and
applauding.
    Nohjj was elated!  He sang for an hour, dancing and leaping about.  The louder the
crowd cheered, the higher he would jump as he danced!  At the height of his last jump, the
crowd suddenly became silent.  Without realizing it, Nohjj leaped high into the air...and
stayed there!  As he took stock of his situation, the crowd began to mutter darkly.  Words
like ‘demon’ and ‘evil magic’ floated up to his ears.  In seconds, bows appeared and
arrows aimed at him.  Fearing for his life, Nohjj turned a flew quickly away, leaving his
pack and bowl full of coins behind.  Arrows began to fill the air, and one caught him high
up in his thigh.  Nohjj escaped the village with his life, but little else.
    Wounded and without his possessions, Nohjj flew toward the next village he knew of. 
This village, a great city called Rennibister, was known for its many different peoples, as
well as many practitioners of magic.  Nohjj felt he was safe and might be able to play and
recoup his losses...and get the arrow out of his bum!
  Using the last of his gold, he was healed of his injury at a local temple.  Hungry, now,
Nohjj picked out a location and began to play his mandolin and sing, in hopes of getting
enough coins to get food and lodging for the night.  Seeing that many other Bards were
also playing, he decided to chance his ability to fly in the hopes of drawing more people. 
Floating up ever so slowly as he played, it took a while before people noticed his feet were
not on the ground.  Soon, people stopped listening to the Bards and went to see the flying,
singing Senrat.
    Once again the coins came out, and none were frightened by this obvious use of magic. 
No arrow sliced the air in his direction.  Even the other Bards came to see his act!  Soon,
he possessed enough coins to live comfortably for a week.
    After he concluded his act and started to collect his earnings, he was approached by an
official looking man in the traditional garb of a Master Bard.
    “What is your business here, Senrat?” asked the man.
    “Just plying my trade, sir.” answered Nohjj.
    “You are required to register at the Guild and paying your dues before performing in
Rennibister!” exclaimed the man. “I am Martok, high Bard of the Rennibister Bard’s Guild. 
You are in violation of article one section nine of the Bard’s Guild Rules of Conduct.  As
such you are subject to a fine of three Starrans, plus another fine for using unregistered
magic in your act of 9 Midans.  Before you will be allowed to perform again, you must
pay your fines and register at the Guild.  Registration is six Banes.  Dues are three Banes. 
If you do not pay before sundown, there will be an additional late fee of 27 Tears for each
day you fail to pay.  You will not be allowed to perform or leave town until you pay up.”
    Nohjj was shocked at the steep fines he had garnered, but paid all of his fines, fees and
dues as ordered.  The little amount left to him scarcely paid for his dinner.  He would have
stayed at the Guild that night, but many of the other Bards were angry that he had taken
much of their business away that day, and he feared he would not be well received.  So, he
walked to the end of town where he had seen a great tower.
    Knowing he would not be safe sleeping on the ground in the city at night, Nohjj flew up
to the top of the tower and made himself as comfortable as he could.  It was a warm, clear
night, so he was able to sleep comfortably for a time.
    Before long, Nohjj was awoken by something prodding his shoulder.  Startled, Nohjj
jumped up and made ready to fly away.  But the source of the prodding was a large
Dorendor, one of many, and Dorendors are well known for the speed at which they can
travel across the heavens.  Trapped, Nohjj could only look stupidly at the Dorendor.
    “Who are you, and why are you here?” screeched the Dorendor.
    Nohjj, thanks to the Winged Wolfdeers gifts, was able to understand the avians strange
tongue.  “I am a Bard.  I sought only a place to sleep.” he replied.
    “How you get up here, Bard?” queried the Dorendor.
    Nohjj considered a moment, then decided the truth would not upset a flying monster. 
“I flew up.” he said, then floated a few hands up into the air to prove he was no lying.
    “Come with us, Bard.” the Dorendor ordered.
    Realizing he had no choice, Nohjj followed the monster.  They walked into a door on
the rooftop of the tower, and down a level of stairs.  There, Nohjj say a truly monstrous
Dorendor, fully twice the size of the others, wearing jewelry and a feathered head-dress. 
The Dorendors that brought Nohjj in bowed low, then the one who had spoken to Nohjj,
spoke to the giant Dorendor.
    “My Queen.  We found this creature sleeping above.  He claims he is a Bard, and has
proven he can fly.” 
    “A Bard?” screeched the Queen.  “Let him sing for me.”
    Fearing what could happen if he did not please the Queen, Nohjj sang an Elvish ballad
in the Dorendors own tongue.  When he finished, all present began to crow and screech. 
It took a few minutes for Nohjj to realize that this was applause.
    Now, what happened next, none can know for sure.  Some say that Nohjj was killed
and eaten by the Dorendors out of jealousy for his magical singing.  Others say he was
forced to marry the Queen.  Most believe that Nohjj is in that tower still, kept in a cage
where he can sing for the Dorendor Queen for all time.
  So be careful what you wish for.