The Puffonic Plague

Characters of the time period

 * Kurlan the Mentor: Teacher at this time, ancestor of Kur Rising.
 * Kurmina the Wife: Kurlan's Wife at this time period, ancestor of Kur Rising (Kur's family's names start with 'kur' its their family prefix)
 * King Bartolon: King of Barbolon.
 * Queen Balanast: Queen of Barbolon.
 * Mistress Kita: Maid of Queen Balanast.

The Beginning: War
Today is April 13th, 1354, I am Kurlan, I am on my way with my fellow Barbolonians to fight the Syskanians. The Syskanians live on Syska, a small island west of Barbolon. I, and my friends, are ready to fight these Syskanian scumbags.

Today, well today is still 13/4/1354. We have arrived on Syska... as soon as we stepped off the boat they started throwing these puffles. Animal abuse, eh? We fought through them to get to the Syskan Leader... before we were halfway through they gave up. We headed for home, but our ship puffle was sick. Had he gotten Puffle Necrosis? (Puffonic Plague).

The Disease: Dreadful Beginnings
Today is May 14th, 1354... I noticed what happened when we got off the ship, the puffle had gotten the disease! I was fearful for the island as it spread across. The effect you ask? Well... it turns penguins into PUFFLES! All of my friends from the battle were now... puffles. I was one of the last unaffected people, along with the King and Queen, and my wife. We had locked the doors and made sure those infected puffles could NOT get in. They cried out to me, but we ignored the pleas of our people- uhh, puffles.

"Mina, are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes, I am just terrified for our lives. I was hoping to have a son sometime, or a daughter, but with this disease we cannot have a family." She replied.

"But, Mina, this disease will be over in a few years, we can wait!" I yelled.

"Are you sure, Kurlan?" She replied.

"I am very sure." I said.

I was right... but... I am gonna get too far ahead of myself, let me continue. Mina and I stayed locked inside, we figured if we ran to the royal palace, across town, we could be in safety. There were too many afflicted puffles running around, we couldn't get sick. That night, when all the puffles were asleep... we bolted for the palace.

The Disease: Palace at Midnight
We arrived at the palace... it was midnight and the king stood gazing out at his diseased country. Tears slowly slapped onto the ground below, we banged on the door. Queen Balanast's maid Mistress Kita came and let us in and slammed the door shut.

"Hello, are you the last of the unaffected people?" Kita asked.

"I believe so, can they be healed?" Kurmina asked.

"I believe that they can't." I said.

"Kurlan! Can't you be more supportive of the people you taught?!" Kurmina screamed at me.

"Not when they are infected diseased puffles." I shot back.

"Quiet, quiet. I see this pandemic is tearing you apart." Queen Balanast spoke quickly.

"Queen Balanast!" I exclaimed.

"Hello, my dear childhood friend." Queen Balanast spoke with a chuckle to Kurlan.

"Its been so long, yet you were just across town, I am sorry I did not talk to you sooner, Madam." I said.

"Oh, Kurlan, you were busy, I know." She said.

"Thank you for understanding, this is my wife, Kurmina, her original name was Mina, but when she married into the Kur family, well you know about the Family Prefix, right?" I asked.

"Oh yes, Kurlan, you were never "Lan" is that correct?" She asked.

"I was born Kurlan." I said.

"Why was King Bartolon weeping?" Kurmina asked.

"He is afraid that his country will die, and we be the last to live." Queen Balanast said.

"Can't we sneak off the island and get to some other place?" I asked.

"Without taking the disease with us? Impossible." She replied.

"Are those Syskanians afflicted with this too?" I asked.

"More than likely." She said.

"-but, Madame, can't you preen yourself of this puffle curse and leave in the secret barge?" Kita asked.

"Yes, we could." Queen Balanast said. "...-but what of my people? They may be puffles, but they're still Barbolinians."

"Quiet, quiet, my dear, we will escape tonight..." King Bartolon whispered from the end of the hall.