just a really short fic that i'd had a request for...

the Amazon & The Tar Golem
insert standard disclaimers here.


 Shampoo stretched out and regarded the child blinking up at
her with blue eyes.

 "Story time?" The toddler asked in a clear voice, not
demanding, merely asking.

 "Yes, Shampoo think so. Which one, which one. Shampoo know
many many stories from growing up. Mother was healer in
village, know many many tales and stories she tell to
Shampoo." Shampoo pondered for a moment.

 "Ah, Shampoo know. Once, one thousand nine hundred year
ago, was only one Amazon village. Were many monsters and
bandits in area, provide much good training for Amazon
warriors.

 "Also was one place, known as Lonely Tower. There live very
powerful wizard."

 Shanma blinked up at her mother. "Was he evil wizard?"

 Shampoo shook her head. "No. Not *evil* wizard. Very
powerful but little bit crazy from being lonely all time. No
have anyone talk to, no have anyone trust. He jilted by many
many women where he come from, so he not trust women
especially. One great Elder approach Tower one day to sell
vegetables and find out what powerful wizard do there."

 "And they fought?"

 "No, they no fight. Least not way you mean. Elder figure
out what going on, and make deal with wizard. Each year,
wizard get soldier or summon champion. Each year, one Amazon
fight champion. If wizard win, then Amazon work for wizard
for next year. Wizard can trust Amazon for that year, get
someone to talk to, not be as crazy. This way Amazon village
also get some protection from wizard, as he want to keep
warriors coming. If wizard lose, then he have to make magic
treasure for Amazon village.

 "This where Nanban Mirror and many Amazon treasure come
from. Amazon womens have much pride, they no lose easy even
when wizard summon up many powerful opponent. So sometime
wizard win, sometime Amazon win. It all depend on many
things.

 "Sometime Amazon get treasure even when lose. Wizard funny
like that. Depends on what happen during year of service.
Was good arrangement, maybe.

 "Then come time when wizard fall in love. Was terrible
thing to happen, because Amazon he fall in love with no love
him back. She very proud, very fierce, very strong warrior
name of Ti Li.

 "Wizard want challenge her, but can only do once per year.
Was agreement, and all in village know. All in village also
know wizard really love Ti. Ti no care, because Ti no like
weak men. She proper Amazon that way. First year, wizard
summon powerful minotaur. Was man three times size of
Amazon, with head of bull, fists like hooves, very strong.
Ti beat minotaur. Second year, wizard summon powerful
dragon. Was very fierce fight, but Ti win. Third year,
wizard cast spell and make duplicate of Ti. Even more long
and fierce battle, but Ti win anyway.

 "Ti getting plenty mad at this point. She win even against
strong opponent because wizard not fighting all out. Each
thing try to capture or restrain Ti, not fight with all
strength. Ti no like."

 "Wizard not want to hurt her," Shanma said, blinking.

 "Yes. But Ti feel he not take her seriously. So Wizard
stuck, how to do? Finally he come up with plan. He take tar
from tar pits, sculpt a statue, enchant it. Wizard call this
a Tar Golem. Ti see this thing and get even more angry. It
look ridiculous, move slowly. How dare Wizard insult womans
of Amazon village by using such silly champion to fight her?

 "Scheduled fight come, and Ti attack with broadsword.
Cleave deep into Tar Golem but sword stuck. Golem still
moving. Ti back off but still no concerned. She wait, then
use bo stick. Golem move now, and grabs Ti. Ti tries to
break free by using foot to press against body, but Golem
very sticky and begin flowing over her. Ti foot stuck in
Golem chest and hand stuck in Golem arm. Ti  realize now
what Wizard do.  More you attack, more problems you has. She
could have avoided Golem and waited it out.

 "Ti screaming many many words is not OK for young one to
hear. She not happy camper. She try pull leg out, arm go in
further, she try pull arm out, leg go in further. She stop
struggling but not give up fight. She call out to Azure, her
Second in fight for new weapon -fire.

 "Everyone plenty unhappy at this, but Azure bring torch. If
Ti use, then she defeat Golem but Ti likely die as she stuck
in tar.  She ready go out fighting, cursing Wizard with last
breath. Wizard see this and he call off fight. He ready pack
and leave. No fight Ti, no fight Amazon no more.

 "Ti get much grief from many Amazons. Wizard not bad
fellow, just get hung up on wrong girl. Ti go to tower, this
time she challenge him. No wizard. Ti really upset now.
Confess to Elders she not really dislike Wizard, just not
want fights to end. Ti enjoy fights. Ti enjoy fights too
much."

 "So what happen to Ti? What happen to Wizard?"

 "Wizard gone. Never seen, never heard from again. Ti live
in village, become Champion. Get older but no wiser. Live
many many years, spend all time alone, get old and still
alone. First she too good for males to beat, then no males
challenge, she live long time and fight many battles but die
cold and alone and nobody love her at end. So you know what
Ti story supposed to tell us?"

 The child screwed his face up. "That sometime you can win,
but still lose?"

 Shampoo nodded. "Is so. Is good to win fight, but have to
know when time to lose."
=============================
the wizard is an NPC from my RPGing. Lonely old guy who
threw himself into golem crafting after a failed love affair
with an elven woodcarver. (Her parents opposed the match,
and she ended up rejecting him solely on that basis. ) Bit
of a recluse. First one to make armor golems and some of the
other more unusual types. (W18,hm,LG) Died a lonely old man,
choking to death on his lunch. The adventure involved going
into his tower after his death to find out what had happened
to old Keyvas The Crafter...
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ja ne, gregg