The Tale of Godwin's Crypt

As I write this from the comfort of my chambers, the year is currently 1145. My name is Randolf and I am the keeper of Godwin's Crypt, a horrifying place full of unimaginable mythical creatures.

My duty is a difficult one, albeit a necessary one: search the lands for these mythological beings, study them, then ultimately, destroy them.

I inherited this responsibility, quite literally, as a part of my family lineage. My great-grandfather, Godwin, for whom the crypt is so befittingly named after, was the first to have taken this inconceivable task upon himself. Many before him had clearly recognized the dangers that these creatures imposed upon civilization, but only my great-grandfather had been courageous enough to finally take action. Thus, it became a family tradition, that he should pass on everything he had learned to my father, and he to his firstborn son, born under the name of Randolf. A name of German origin, read as "wolf shield" -- my fate had been written the moment I was born...

(All images created using an AI art generator on Night Cafe)

My very first, and successful attempt, was not an extraordinary one. Our family motto is, "small, not tall;" begin with a creature that you are capable of handling, but never become boastful of it. Even the tiniest beasts can present the greatest threats.

I decided to begin with the leprechaun. Native to Ireland, these tiny fairies can be very persuasive, but also mischievous and cunning, using their powers to wreck havoc on us, placing curses for the rest of our days. I traveled to the Emerald Isle, and was immediately greeted with chatter of "a very skilled shoemaker" in town. An inexperienced hunter wouldn't have given this a second thought, however, I was not of that ilk; I knew better.

"Ah, I couldn’t get over how he’d gone about preparin’ those bloody things! They'd barely been with him a week and he’d managed to fix both of ‘em!" one gentleman chirped excitedly.

"Aye, and I reckon ye gave him a right generous tip for the job, did ye now?" his listener replied.

The first nodded fervently. "Of course! He was being modest, but I wouldn’t hear of it." Then added, "Besides, lookin’ at the state of his living quarters, I’m baffled as to how he doesn’t ask for more."

I had heard enough -- this information was more than sufficient, and I swiftly implored the men as to where I may find this "shoemaker." After they took notice of my accent and attire, and briefly exchanging adventurous tales with one another, I was on my way to encountering my first mythical being.

I was told that I may find a hut of sticks near the river, just on the edge of town. Inside this hut would be the leprechaun that I was searching for.

They certainly aren't dim creatures, in regards to keeping their existence a secret. Leprechauns often practice a nomadic lifestyle, living apart from others, setting up shabby shelters that can be discarded at a moment's notice. Their physical appearance makes it nearly impossible for them to go undiscovered by humans, and so they rely on humanity's kind nature in continuing to keep this secret hidden, bribing us with promises of gold and wishes. Once again, an experienced hunter is not so easily deceived.

He was sitting by the river, running his hands through the stream of water, gazing up at the field before him. I wasted no time in approaching the leprechaun. Although he was situated in the middle of nowhere with no one else around, he did not seem disturbed by my presence. Such is the nature of one who relies on the power of manipulation.

A warm smile crossed his lips as he said to me, "Yer quite far from home, it seems!" His pointed shoes assured me that I was not mistaken of his identity and he seemed to notice my gaze, adding, "Did ye have any shoes needin’ mending?"

I politely shook my head. "I am here on entirely different business, I'm afraid..." My right hand reached down and rested on the hilt of my sword to get my point across.

A pained expression flushed his features. "So ye know who I am — or should I say, what I am. And I know ye. No need for all the formalities." The creature stood up then, exposing his true stature of about four feet tall. "But might I persuade ye to change yer mind? If it’s fortune that leads ye, I’d be willin’ to part with mine." Another shake of my head. "Surely yer heart must desire somethin’— winnin’ the hearts of fair maidens can be a right tricky business, I’m sure a fine lad like yerself knows that well enough."

"I shall tell you what it is that I desire," I spoke softly. "I desire for the world to be cleansed of your kind, for all mythological creatures to return to the depths of Hell from whence they came."

He seemed to have accepted his reality by this point. He gave no signs of resistance. "I’ve heard words such as these spoken before... Yer from Godwin’s bloodline, are ye?" A nod on my behalf, and at this he chuckled to himself. "Then ye should know that a curse has been laid upon ye, and yer kin, for as long as yer lineage shall live. I’m sure ye have felt its shadow more than once."

I took a step forward and began to draw my sword ever so slowly. "I don't want trouble," I warned him gravely.

The leprechaun replied, "And ye shan't receive any! Good God, lad, what could a creature of my size possibly do to ye?" He was right, of course; once their powers of trickery and curses were exhausted, leprechauns were practically useless. No strength, no speed, no magic -- simply tiny little men. He went on: "Nay, I’ll go with ye. I know when I’m beat. If gold won’t tempt ye — then I’m licked..."

With that, the two of us left to begin our journey back to Godwin's Crypt. The leprechaun was quite compliant even up to the moment of his execution, which was not a difficult task. A leprechaun will submit to fate as easily as any other man -- a quick slice to the throat and he was gone. However, he left me with a few parting words for my future endeavors...

"The dashing knight with a head full o’ red, come next winter’s eve, shall be dead..."