Dracnari mystics are renowned for their cryptic sayings. The supplicants who
visit them often depart no more enlightened than they arrived as the mystics
deliver their words of wisdom through ambiguous parables and allegories. Perhaps
this is because the masters understand that knowledge that must be earned is
better cherished; perhaps they are encouraging the seekers to think for
themselves; or perhaps it simply amuses them to remain inscrutable. At any rate,
whilst the advice is invariably perplexing, the supplicants who can unravel the
words are often stunned by their aptness and extraordinary insight.

One such enlightened saying was bestowed on a hardworking aspirant by the Astute
Chirungo Xiim, Serendipitous Sage of the House of Meditation in Gaudiguch. The
sage stated:

"One should consider the weak politician who sought to swim in the Lava Gardens.
This politician was blessed by the Enigma. Then, to everyone's surprise, the
politician lost a toad and wept."

The aspirant meditated long and hard on these words. She shut herself in her
home, determined to succeed in divining the meaning. She stopped seeing her
friends, saying that she was much too busy, and snapped at them to leave her
alone when they came to express concern for her well-being. After several
fruitless weeks the aspirant left Gaudiguch to search for inspiration from
across the Basin. For months she roamed far and wide - from the blazing Skarch
Desert to the frigid Snow Valley, from the dangerous depths of the Undervault to
the dizzying heights of the Clarramore cloud gardens. Finally in the village of
Estelbar she came across a female tae-dae cub who recounted the tale of 'The
Politician and the Toad', which a visiting dracnari had told her.

The Politician and the Toad
---------------------------

Once in Gaudiguch there was a minor dracnari politician named Druki Chulx who
had a burning desire to become Mayor. Unfortunately Druki was small, mean and
unpopular; his only companion was a pet toad, named Truffle, whom he loved
dearly. Chulx was never without his warty little friend, who rode always in the
pocket of his fine purple coat, peeking out to survey the world with its bulging
eyes.

One day Druki decided that the time had come to contest for the Mayorship. He
called the citizens together and stated his intent. The people laughed, saying
that he was too weak to make a good leader. Druki was incensed and angrily made
a vow.

"At dawn tomorrow I shall swim from one side of the river in the Lava Gardens to
the other. That will prove you all wrong!"

Now this was a foolhardy boast as the river in the Lava Gardens is not a normal
river, but one of molten rock. Even a flame-resistant dracnari would perish
within moments. The people protested, but Druki Chulx was blinded by ambition
and indignation, and so the people agreed to gather next morning to witness his
attempt.

Once Druki got back to his home the silly dracnari realised his folly. He
worried all afternoon, fretted all evening, and he didn't get a wink of sleep
all night as he paced round his bedroom in a panic.

"Oh Truffle!" he lamented to his trusty toad, who was snuggled in his pocket as
usual, "What am I to do? If I jump in the lava I shall surely die, but if I do
not I will never be Mayor and I don't think I could bear the shame. Perhaps I
shall run away and leave beautiful Gaudiguch forever."

Truffle the toad blinked sympathetically, but remained silent.

In desperation Druki prayed to any and all of the divine, beseeching them for a
way out of his pickle. Some of them heard him and, as the rosy fingers of dawn
approached, one of them answered.

The whispery voice of the Enigma, Lord Elostian, sussurated from the shadows of
Druki's abode like dry leaves in the wind.

"Druki Chulx, I will aid you. I have enchanted your coat. Jump fully clothed
into the lava and you will not be harmed. This I promise."

As He said this the coat glimmered as a dazzling web of light played across the
purple cloth; when it faded the presence of the Enigma was gone.

With not a moment to lose the lucky dracnari gleefully hurried to the Lava
Gardens. Finally his ambition would be realised! He strode towards the already
assembled crowd - there to witness his moment of glory - and, without a word,
dove into the searing torrent. The crowd gasped. First in horror as they had not
expected the politician to go though with his insane boast, then in amazement as
Druki surfaced from the white hot ooze and slowly battled his way to the
opposite shore.

By the time Druki clambered out of the lava the crowd was clapping and cheering
wildly. Cooling chunks of molten debris and ash flaked off the dracnari and his
clothing as he basked in the applause. He had done it, this mighty deed would
surely win him the respect and admiration of his peers and he would be Mayor. He
glanced down to his coat pocket to share his jubilation with Truffle, but the
toad was not there. In the place usually occupied by Druki's faithful friend was
a slowly cooling lump of rock where the lava had flowed in during the swim. To
the crowd's bewilderment the dracnari let out a piteous wail and burst into
tears.

"Alas!" he sobbed, "In my wretched ambition I have lost the only friend I ever
had. I don't want to be Mayor any more, I just want Truffle back!"

Now whether Truffle the toad was burnt to a cinder in the lava river, or whether
it managed to leap to safety before sadly hopping away, Druki never knew, but he
never saw the toad again.

---------------------------

Finishing the tale, the little girl said that she wasn't certain but she
believed the moral of the story might be 'Lord Elostian hates toads', which she
thought was rather mean of him.

As the little girl chatted, realisation hit the aspirant like a wave and left
her reeling. She finally understood the true moral of the story. It was 'in your
ambition do not forget your friends'. She thanked the tae-dae cub and started
the long journey back to Gaudiguch. She had some apologies to make, but unlike
poor Druki and his toad she knew that it was not too late for her friends to
forgive her.