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Description
Often in the chill of November, leaves find themselves in all sorts of nooks and crannies around the world.  Melpo Melchoir is much like those leaves, although he is a bit less seasonal.  Regardless, Melpo is a wizard of magnificent talent and great renown throughout all the lands.  His beard and his toad are his most significant features.  I mention the toad because Melpo speaks to it, and the beard because it is beautifully white and drastically long.  But, I digress.  I am here to tell you of Melpo Melchoir, the great wizard of the North; I am not here to discuss his pleasantly fluffy beard.

Birds chuckled and chirped in the distance as sunlight poured in from a small knot in Melpo's hollow tree. -Oh, perhaps I forgot to mention that; I should do that right now.  Well, Melpo, being the strange wizard he is, fancies his home inside of a giant, talking tree, but we will meet that tree later.  Anyway, on with the story-The sound of wood splitting awoke Melpo very quickly.  He sat up with an eccentric start and quickly readied a spell, although there was no need.  "Hmmmmm," his leathery voice scratched with a pondering notion.  "What could have made ALL of that racket I wonder.  Perhaps I should inspect.  Well, after tea, that is!"  And with that, Melpo made his way to his magical kettle, which set atop a wondrous mahogany countertop, accompanied by many magical trinkets and many opened spell-books.  The wizard hummed a whimsical tune as he began preparing his morning tea.  The tea leaves had the magnificent aroma of a garden of roses in the summer.  Melpo placed the enchanted leaves into the whimsical kettle and placed the kettle atop of his rustic stove.  While waiting for the tea to boil, Melpo sat in his fancy recliner, which utterly engulfed the wizard in comfort.

Soft trails of steam wisped to and fro as they rose from the dark brew of a special kind of tea as Melpo poured the concoction into a very fancy, wooden mug.  The sun outside still shone brilliantly through the knotholes littered throughout his wonderful tree.  The specks of dust and pollen could easily be seen frolicking in a nonchalant manner in the warm rays of golden sunlight.  Melpo sipped his magic brew and took in the beauty of the day.  To this wonderful wizard, the simple things in life, like dust in the sun, was all he needed to get through the day.  The toad, whose name is Norv, croaked in simple acknowledgement of everything wonderful in this beautiful world.  "This is beauty, Norv," Melpo said in his fluid voice.  "Wait, Norv!  Aren't we forgetting something?  That tree, it seemed as if the forest herself were crying out.  Perhaps we should go investigate?"  Norv croaked urgently in agreement.  "Let's go!"  Melpo quickly dawned his robe and wizard hat--I shall explain them later, both are truly magnificent--And made his way down the spiral staircase inside of the tree to his front door which he promptly opened.  The plush grass felt like velvet on his bare, pink feet.

Visitors from afar stirred among Melpo's tranquil trees.  The forest itself seemed frightened of what may be rustling in the dark bowels of the forest.  "Daldus, have the trees given you any news of that awful racket?"  Questioned Melpo.  The creaking and groaning of age-old wood stretching could be heard as the great tree yawned.  "'Tis a fine morning, is it not? "  The great tree's voice boomed.  The trees within the forest seemed to rustle and groan with tense controversy.  "My brothers, what is wrong within our tranquil home?  You seem uneasy.  What is the cause of this disturbance?"  Daldus questioned the smaller trees.  Again, the trees responded through rustles and groans.  Silence soon spread like a blanket over the forest.  "Hmmmm," the great tree began, "this is very unsettling, Melpo.  Very unsettling indeed."  The tree sunk into quiet contemplation.  Melpo watched carefully and awaited an explanation, after all, angering his home is not a good way to start off the morning.

"Dear wizard, it seems as if there is a demon rustling about or forest.  We are all in grave danger."  The forest seemed to be holding its breath.  "You, Melpo, must seek out this mighty beast and slay it, seeing as how you are the only wizard in the forest!  However, this beast is far to powerful for you and you alone.  I will offer what I can."  The tree barked out urgently.  Melpo remained mellow, for he was a wizard, and wizards have hardly any need to panic over demons because such things are trivial in the world of magic.  Daldus began to shake his branches and ruffle his leaves as he sang an otherworldly chant.  His voice was melodic in its deep tone and had a vibrato that heaved to and fro like waves in the ocean.  Soon the forest began to take on an ethereal light as lantern bug began to gather and dance around Melpo.  It looked as if a galaxy were erupting from the wizard himself.  In a blinding finale the glowing insects created a bright vortex around the wizard and with a flash they were gone.  In front of Melpo lay a short spear made of seemingly white wood and crested with a shining blade.  "May...the light purge the...evil...that resides within this...forest."  Daldus said through deep wheezing just before his branches slumped in exhaustion.  The tree slept as Melpo walked forward, he would know where to go.  "Thank you, friend."  Melpo said in a solemn tone.  "I'll rid you of this plague, whatever it may be."  The spear was gripped so firmly in his left hand he could almost feel the grain of the wood sinking into his flesh.  Melpo knew what he had to do, and he was ready.

Lunchtime had passed, and Norv was sure to alert his robe-clad partner through a series of croaks.  "I know, Norv, it's way past our lunchtime and I'm sorry.  But, you know, we do have a forest to save, so we can deal with it just for today."  Norv let out a scornful croak at the mention of missing a lunch.  Melpo sighed, "Well, perhaps we could just have two lunches tomorrow, my warty friend!"  And with that Norv was suddenly happy.  Nothing like a gourmet lunch for a hungry toad twice!

"This is unusual, Norv," Melpo said as he held out his hand to signal that they were stopping.  The land seemed broke, and it was elevating.  The forest had always been relatively flat, but it looked as if a mountain had sprung overnight.  Trees lay uprooted and littered around the site and the earth was cracked and broken.  A horrific site for anyone, especially ones, such as Norv and Melpo, with a terrific affinity towards the nature which they serve.  Melpo stared in awe at the new mountain and wondered what could have caused such a disturbance.  "Norv?"  Melpo asked.  The toad croaked, and that was all the conformation he needed.  Both the wizard and the toad began to scale the steep mutation.

After a horrid time of slipping and falling the two finally made it to the top of the unnatural mountain, but they were greeted by something far more unpleasant.  Melpo stood in horror as he saw a billowing mass at the center of a crater which spanned across the entire top of the mountain.  The aberration seemed to erupt from the middle of this dormant shrine.  This demon was twice as large as the mountain itself and turned noon into dusk through it's horrific size.  Smoke formed the body of this abomination and seemed to constantly be trying to engulf its own massive size.

"Aghua sh'nta ackn fjorhtanah ii'l norghj."  The demon whispered to Melpo as his nine eyes stared straight into his two.  "Stay back!  You horrific monster, go back to your abyss and bother us no longer!  I said be gone!"  The wizard screamed as he let loose an arsenal of spells.  Fire flew, all colors of the spectrum lit up the awkward twilight, and magical waves and bolts all found their mark.  The demon kept growing larger and larger, his body was spreading farthing and growing higher, but Melpo was relentless.  "Aghua sh'nta ackn fjorhtanah ii'l norghj." The demon whispered again.  "NO! NO!"  The wizard screamed in a fit of violence.  His fluffy white beard flung with ever wave of his hand and sweat was violently cascading from his bare brow.  "By Melan's great fields you will go from whence you came, foul beast of the netherworld!"  Melpo ordered the demon.  The smoky figure drew back for an attack, and Melpo readied his spear for a throw.  "GO, BEAST!"  The wizard bellowed in a blind rage.  Before Melpo could loose that elegant spear the beast let out a blood curdling howl that could be heard even in the deepest deeps of the sea. A great cloud of dust erupted from the demon and spread across the entirety of the forest, covering ever last inch of it in magical spores which turned everything to stone.  The forest remained still in a petrified rest as the Demon sauntered from his dormant throne to inspect his stone kingdom.  His evil tri-tone laugh rang through the gray wasteland.

Description
Often in the chill of November, leaves find themselves in all sorts of nooks and crannies around the world.  Melpo Melchoir is much like those leaves, although he is a bit less seasonal.  Regardless, Melpo is a wizard of magnificent talent and great renown throughout all the lands.  His beard and his toad are his most significant features.  I mention the toad because Melpo speaks to it, and the beard because it is beautifully white and drastically long.  But, I digress.  I am here to tell you of Melpo Melchoir, the great wizard of the North; I am not here to discuss his pleasantly fluffy beard.

Birds chuckled and chirped in the distance as sunlight poured in from a small knot in Melpo's hollow tree. -Oh, perhaps I forgot to mention that; I should do that right now.  Well, Melpo, being the strange wizard he is, fancies his home inside of a giant, talking tree, but we will meet that tree later.  Anyway, on with the story-The sound of wood splitting awoke Melpo very quickly.  He sat up with an eccentric start and quickly readied a spell, although there was no need.  "Hmmmmm," his leathery voice scratched with a pondering notion.  "What could have made ALL of that racket I wonder.  Perhaps I should inspect.  Well, after tea, that is!"  And with that, Melpo made his way to his magical kettle, which set atop a wondrous mahogany countertop, accompanied by many magical trinkets and many opened spell-books.  The wizard hummed a whimsical tune as he began preparing his morning tea.  The tea leaves had the magnificent aroma of a garden of roses in the summer.  Melpo placed the enchanted leaves into the whimsical kettle and placed the kettle atop of his rustic stove.  While waiting for the tea to boil, Melpo sat in his fancy recliner, which utterly engulfed the wizard in comfort.

Soft trails of steam wisped to and fro as they rose from the dark brew of a special kind of tea as Melpo poured the concoction into a very fancy, wooden mug.  The sun outside still shone brilliantly through the knotholes littered throughout his wonderful tree.  The specks of dust and pollen could easily be seen frolicking in a nonchalant manner in the warm rays of golden sunlight.  Melpo sipped his magic brew and took in the beauty of the day.  To this wonderful wizard, the simple things in life, like dust in the sun, was all he needed to get through the day.  The toad, whose name is Norv, croaked in simple acknowledgement of everything wonderful in this beautiful world.  "This is beauty, Norv," Melpo said in his fluid voice.  "Wait, Norv!  Aren't we forgetting something?  That tree, it seemed as if the forest herself were crying out.  Perhaps we should go investigate?"  Norv croaked urgently in agreement.  "Let's go!"  Melpo quickly dawned his robe and wizard hat--I shall explain them later, both are truly magnificent--And made his way down the spiral staircase inside of the tree to his front door which he promptly opened.  The plush grass felt like velvet on his bare, pink feet.

Visitors from afar stirred among Melpo's tranquil trees.  The forest itself seemed frightened of what may be rustling in the dark bowels of the forest.  "Daldus, have the trees given you any news of that awful racket?"  Questioned Melpo.  The creaking and groaning of age-old wood stretching could be heard as the great tree yawned.  "'Tis a fine morning, is it not? "  The great tree's voice boomed.  The trees within the forest seemed to rustle and groan with tense controversy.  "My brothers, what is wrong within our tranquil home?  You seem uneasy.  What is the cause of this disturbance?"  Daldus questioned the smaller trees.  Again, the trees responded through rustles and groans.  Silence soon spread like a blanket over the forest.  "Hmmmm," the great tree began, "this is very unsettling, Melpo.  Very unsettling indeed."  The tree sunk into quiet contemplation.  Melpo watched carefully and awaited an explanation, after all, angering his home is not a good way to start off the morning.

"Dear wizard, it seems as if there is a demon rustling about or forest.  We are all in grave danger."  The forest seemed to be holding its breath.  "You, Melpo, must seek out this mighty beast and slay it, seeing as how you are the only wizard in the forest!  However, this beast is far to powerful for you and you alone.  I will offer what I can."  The tree barked out urgently.  Melpo remained mellow, for he was a wizard, and wizards have hardly any need to panic over demons because such things are trivial in the world of magic.  Daldus began to shake his branches and ruffle his leaves as he sang an otherworldly chant.  His voice was melodic in its deep tone and had a vibrato that heaved to and fro like waves in the ocean.  Soon the forest began to take on an ethereal light as lantern bug began to gather and dance around Melpo.  It looked as if a galaxy were erupting from the wizard himself.  In a blinding finale the glowing insects created a bright vortex around the wizard and with a flash they were gone.  In front of Melpo lay a short spear made of seemingly white wood and crested with a shining blade.  "May...the light purge the...evil...that resides within this...forest."  Daldus said through deep wheezing just before his branches slumped in exhaustion.  The tree slept as Melpo walked forward, he would know where to go.  "Thank you, friend."  Melpo said in a solemn tone.  "I'll rid you of this plague, whatever it may be."  The spear was gripped so firmly in his left hand he could almost feel the grain of the wood sinking into his flesh.  Melpo knew what he had to do, and he was ready.

Lunchtime had passed, and Norv was sure to alert his robe-clad partner through a series of croaks.  "I know, Norv, it's way past our lunchtime and I'm sorry.  But, you know, we do have a forest to save, so we can deal with it just for today."  Norv let out a scornful croak at the mention of missing a lunch.  Melpo sighed, "Well, perhaps we could just have two lunches tomorrow, my warty friend!"  And with that Norv was suddenly happy.  Nothing like a gourmet lunch for a hungry toad twice!

"This is unusual, Norv," Melpo said as he held out his hand to signal that they were stopping.  The land seemed broke, and it was elevating.  The forest had always been relatively flat, but it looked as if a mountain had sprung overnight.  Trees lay uprooted and littered around the site and the earth was cracked and broken.  A horrific site for anyone, especially ones, such as Norv and Melpo, with a terrific affinity towards the nature which they serve.  Melpo stared in awe at the new mountain and wondered what could have caused such a disturbance.  "Norv?"  Melpo asked.  The toad croaked, and that was all the conformation he needed.  Both the wizard and the toad began to scale the steep mutation.

After a horrid time of slipping and falling the two finally made it to the top of the unnatural mountain, but they were greeted by something far more unpleasant.  Melpo stood in horror as he saw a billowing mass at the center of a crater which spanned across the entire top of the mountain.  The aberration seemed to erupt from the middle of this dormant shrine.  This demon was twice as large as the mountain itself and turned noon into dusk through it's horrific size.  Smoke formed the body of this abomination and seemed to constantly be trying to engulf its own massive size.

"Aghua sh'nta ackn fjorhtanah ii'l norghj."  The demon whispered to Melpo as his nine eyes stared straight into his two.  "Stay back!  You horrific monster, go back to your abyss and bother us no longer!  I said be gone!"  The wizard screamed as he let loose an arsenal of spells.  Fire flew, all colors of the spectrum lit up the awkward twilight, and magical waves and bolts all found their mark.  The demon kept growing larger and larger, his body was spreading farthing and growing higher, but Melpo was relentless.  "Aghua sh'nta ackn fjorhtanah ii'l norghj." The demon whispered again.  "NO! NO!"  The wizard screamed in a fit of violence.  His fluffy white beard flung with ever wave of his hand and sweat was violently cascading from his bare brow.  "By Melan's great fields you will go from whence you came, foul beast of the netherworld!"  Melpo ordered the demon.  The smoky figure drew back for an attack, and Melpo readied his spear for a throw.  "GO, BEAST!"  The wizard bellowed in a blind rage.  Before Melpo could loose that elegant spear the beast let out a blood curdling howl that could be heard even in the deepest deeps of the sea. A great cloud of dust erupted from the demon and spread across the entirety of the forest, covering ever last inch of it in magical spores which turned everything to stone.  The forest remained still in a petrified rest as the Demon sauntered from his dormant throne to inspect his stone kingdom.  His evil tri-tone laugh rang through the gray wasteland.