354 days after a wizard cursed the REALM…
Current Version:
Today's Wordler set out with a heavy heart. The previous Wordler had survived a massive deluge to return with FLOOD. The Wordler before that had a horribly depressing time tracking down GLOOM. And the Wordler before that had to dive to the DEPTH of the ocean, such a long way down that she almost drowned.
"I'm not cut out for this," the Wordler thought. "I don't have the personal qualities I need. What if there's water involved again? I can't even swim!"
She made her way to the Word Wizard's lair to express her concerns. Maybe it wasn't too late for the village to choose another questor?
The wise old man just laughed. "Look within yourself, child. You already have the thing for which you seek."
The Wordler was confused. "What do you mean?"
"You have COURAGE," the Word Wizard said. "After all, you came here to me, didn't you?"
"I guess I do," she said, surprising herself. "But COURAGE can't be my word. It doesn't fit the five-letter pattern. But if courage is something I have, it must be some part of the answer."
"Go now," said the old man. "Use your courage to face your fears and take on the challenge you've been given."
The Wordler smiled and bowed her head. She had a new sense of purpose and knew she was up to the task. She no longer had any doubt that she'd bring back a Protective Word because it wasn't something she needed to find. It was only what she'd had all along.
Web3 Draft:
Revision Notes:
This episode introduces the Word Wizard as a kindly elder mentor to the Wordlers. Later episodes reveal that this wizard was the one who cursed the REALM, and show him as a villainous henchman to the Gray Lady. But is he working for her willingly, or has he been compromised?
