CBR - Draw Me an X-Jam XVII - Fairy Tales III

My third entry for the DMaX jam over on the CBR Forums. I was assigned Mojo and put him into a fairy tale setting. So I present:

The Spineless One of Hamelin

Tales from the Brothers Madrox


A long time ago, the town of Hamelin was suffering from a grave problem. It had a unprecedented infestation of rats.

The rodents had multiplied to such a degree, that it was like a black sea swarmed over the whole town. First, they attacked the barns and storehouses, then, for lack of anything better, they gnawed the wood, cloth or anything at all. The one thing they didn't eat was metal. The terrified citizens flocked to plead with the town councilors to free them from the plague of rats. But the council had, for a long time, been sitting in the Mayor's room, trying to think of a plan.

"What we need is an army of cats!" Exclaimed Constable Logan.

But all the cats were dead.

"We'll put down poisoned food then," stated the head of the blacksmith’s guild, Erik Lehnsherr.

But most of the food was already gone and even poison did not stop the rats.

"It just can't be done without help!" said Mayor Summers sadly.

While deliberating on what to be done about the problem, there came a loud knock on the door. They gingerly opened it. There stood an obese man in bright clothes who stood unnaturally straight.

“A spineless one,” Logan quietly gasped while Mistress Frost, owner of the town's Inn, fainted in the corner of the room.

"I've freed other towns of beetles and bats," the Spineless One announced, "and for a thousand florins, I'll rid you of your rats!"

"A thousand florins!" exclaimed Summers. "We'll give you fifty thousand if you succeed!"

Before he hurried away, the Spineless One stated, “It's late now, but at dawn tomorrow, there won't be a rat left in Hamelin!” Then with an unnaturally huge smile, a smile that would make the devil himself shiver in fear, he warned, “However, no citizens may leave their homes until the sun rises.”

The council hesitantly agreed, with the exception of poor Mistress Frost, who had just came out of her spell, only to faint again when the stranger's cold eyes met hers.

When morning came, there was not a single rat in the town. There was even greater delight at the town hall, until the Spineless One tried to claim his payment.

"Fifty thousand florins?" exclaimed the councilors.

"Never!" growled Logan.

"A thousand florins at least!" cried the Spineless One angrily.

But Mayor Summers interrupted him. "The rats are all dead now and they can never come back. So be grateful for fifty florins, or you'll not get even that."

His eyes flashing with rage, the Spineless One pointed a threatening finger at Summers. "You'll bitterly regret ever breaking your promise," he said, and vanished.

A shiver of fear ran through the councilors, but the Mayor shrugged and said excitedly: "We've saved fifty thousand florins!"

That night, the townsfolk slept more deeply than ever now that the rats where gone. As their dreams took them, a faint whispering could be heard throughout the town. It danced through the streets and alleys and made its way towards the edge of town. One by one, the children of Hamelin came out of their homes and followed the sound. The sound was made by three small puppets who danced and sang, controlled by strings by the Spineless One. One had purple hair, another had six arms, and the last was very lucky. Smiling, they sang with the moonlight reflecting from their button eyes.

Once all of the children were gathered, he led them out of the town. The long procession made its way through the wood and across the forest until it reached the foot of a huge mountain. When they came to the dark rock, he had his six-armed puppet with silver hair dance. She spun faster and faster still and then a great door creaked open. Beyond lay a cave.

“Welcome my children.” He gestured grandly towards the dark cave while his puppets clapped, “Welcome to the Wildways!”

In trooped the children behind the Spineless One, and when the last child had gone into the darkness, the door creaked shut.

A great landslide came down the mountain blocking the entrance to the cave forever. Only one little girl escaped this fate, Ruth who was blind. It was she who told the anxious citizens, searching for their children, what had happened. No matter what people did, the mountain never gave up its victims.

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Went quick on the inks and colors just to get the entry done. I say quick, but this still took me about 8 hours or so for just the art as I fought this every step of the way.